ORANJESTAD — Respaldo, the Aruba Police Force (KPA) and ImSan Ambulance Service are preparing to sign an Aruba crisis response cooperation protocol aimed at providing clearer coordination when responding to people experiencing psychiatric crises.
According to Respaldo Director Caroline Hart, Respaldo and KPA already work closely together. Respaldo’s Crisis Department was officially launched in October 2024 to provide additional support to police officers who encounter people displaying behavior that may be connected to psychiatric conditions, including psychosis.
In these situations, police officers can contact Respaldo’s Crisis Department for professional assistance. A psychiatric nurse can provide immediate guidance by telephone and, when necessary, travel to the location to assist with the situation.
The proposed Aruba crisis response cooperation protocol has been under development since September 2025 and involves Respaldo, KPA and ImSan Ambulance Service.
The agreement is intended to clearly establish the responsibilities of each organization and determine when responsibility should be transferred from one emergency service to another during a crisis response.
Hart explained that having clear procedures is particularly important for KPA officers working on the streets and Respaldo psychiatric nurses providing mobile services.
The Aruba crisis response cooperation protocol is expected to provide all three organizations with clearer guidelines for working together, helping professionals understand their respective responsibilities during psychiatric crisis situations.
The protocol will be formally signed once all necessary approvals have been completed.
In the meantime, cooperation between Respaldo, KPA and ImSan Ambulance Service will continue while the organizations await the formal signing of the agreement.
