Broken Arrow Crisis Response Team Surprises Homeless Woman With New Van

Broken Arrow Police Department's new crisis response team has been helping a homeless woman in town for the last few weeks and got to do something special for her Monday afternoon.

The CRT is a two-member team of an officer and mental health expert who ride together daily and help people who are going through a tough time. The team met the woman recently and learned she'd been living in her car for five months, but the car didn't run. With help from Grand Mental Health and other organizations, they surprised her with a new van.

BAPD rolled out its crisis response team last month where an officer and person from Grand Mental Health ride together daily and respond to calls and help people who are mentally ill, dealing with addiction or are homeless. They then work to connect those people with resources in the community. This woman is one of the first people Officer Ryan Tyson and his partner Mick Wood met.

“After meeting her we learned she lost her job, was hospitalized for some medical conditions, and that ended up leaving her homeless,” said Officer Tyson.

She's been living in her car for the last five months, but the car had broken down. Catholic Charities jumped in to help the woman and Officer Tyson and Wood started working on a plan to get her a new car. Grand Mental Health got some grant money to help buy her the used van, which is new to her.

“It is huge. It will allow her to get back and forth to dialysis as she needs health-wise, it's going to help her have a way to stay out of the elements whether it is hot or cold for a while until we can find permanent housing for her,” said Becky Wisdom with Catholic Charities.

Officer Tyson says working with others to help people with what they need, is what this team is all about.

“This is absolutely rewarding. To be able to help her out and get her off the streets, I'd say that is exactly why we started this response team,” said Officer Tyson.

Wisdom says the BAPD CRT is a great addition to the community and it’s rewarding seeing people get the help they need.

“I'm not even sure it's completely sunk in with me yet. It's a beautiful thing. It's definitely a beautiful thing. True good and beautiful,” said Wisdom.