City officials announced Nov. 18 that the plan for mental health response teams to respond to 911 calls has been delayed once again. This time, with no set date. 

Brian Smith, city director of the Office of Performance and Innovation, initially said that the program would be launched Nov. 29. 

“The launch of the pilot program is planned for later this year,” Sarah McKenzie, Minneapolis media relations coordinator, said in an email to the Minnesota Daily. “We will share more information once that date is finalized.” 

McKenzie said she expects the response teams to be sent out in mid-December. City officials did not clarify why the program was postponed. 

The City Council unanimously passed the program with intentions for response teams to be sent out in August. The program was delayed until November because of procedural issues, including incomplete background checks.