The Aspen Mountain Film Fest runs at the Wheeler Opera House this week. The five-day festival includes films and events about everything from conservation to sports to community advocates.
The film "Ernie & Joe" sees its Colorado premiere this week.
The feature-length documentary follows San Antonio police officers Ernie Stevens and Joe Smarro, who head up the department’s Mental Health Unit.
Smarro says the film is meant to help show how a compassionate response can help people in crisis.
"I think it goes against what a lot of people would believe that a law enforcement unit would ever be doing," he said.
The film will be followed by a panel on community policing with Stevens, Smarro, Aspen Police Chief Richard Pryor and Kathryn Hundertmark of Aspen’s Co-Responder program.
“Ernie & Joe” starts at 7 p.m. on Friday.
