PINEVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) - In a mental health crisis, police officers often respond to those 911 calls. But the town of Pineville now has a dedicated professional to help officers in an emergency.

The department now has a co-responder clinician. Allison Pastirik has been in the role for about a month and says her own time on patrol helps her get through to people in what could be their most difficult moments.

“I knew that was kind of my niche and where my passion lied in police work,” she said.

Pastirik knew from a young age that she wanted to be a police officer. She said it was after going through crisis intervention training that she found her true calling.

“I actually spent time working in a rural hospital where we dealt with a lot of patients who were involuntarily committed,” she e

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