Northampton has hired a director to implement the city's new Department of Community Care.
The purpose of the department is to provide an alternative to police responding to calls related to mental health, substance use, and other crisis situations.
A commission which was established to review Northampton's policing model recommended the new department earlier this year.
The implementation director job is going to Sean Donovan, who has worked for the Wildflower Alliance in Holyoke, a peer-led support and advocacy organization.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak, WHYN News)