Law enforcement has a strange relationship with mental health calls. They’re unpredictable. They swing between dangerous and ridiculous. And they always — always — happen when you’re one cup of coffee short of mental stability yourself. But every cop who’s worked longer than three shifts has a handful of those stories. The ones that start normal and then immediately spiral into: “Ah. Yes. The universe has selected me for this mission.”

Law enforcement officers are increasingly on the front lines of America’s mental health crisis. Calls involving individuals experiencing mental illness, emotional distress, or substance-induced crises now make up a significant portion of police work.