OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — The Overland Park Police Department plans to expand its team that responds to calls involving mental health crises, with a goal of diffusing the situations while keeping everyone safe.

The new Overland Park Crisis Action Team will have 12 members and six co-responders, though most of the positions haven't started yet. Currently, it has two crisis intervention specialists and three co-responders, The Kansas City Star reported.

When the team responds to a mental health call, it will be accompanied by a clinician from Johnson County Mental Health. A therapy dog will als...