Dr. Courtney Thomas has over 20 years of experience working in the mental health field. He has extensive training and experience in crisis de-escalation and hostage negotiation situations. Dr. Thomas has prioritized social justice initiatives to develop policies and programs to assist under-served communities to allow them greater access to mental health services. He has worked with local governments and community based organizations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and San Francisco. He is part of a collaborative unit between the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Police Department that responds to individuals experiencing mental health crises and are an imminent risk to public safety. Dr. Thomas plays a critical role in reevaluating how police departments and local governments work together to effectively assist individuals who experience mental health crises and present a danger to themselves or others.