Development of the San Development of the San Antonio Police Department’s Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health UnitMental Health Unit

Officer William KasbergOfficer William Kasberg

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Officer Ernest StevensOfficer Ernest Stevens

How we got startedHow we got started

Signing up for CIT classSigning up for CIT class Thursday Nami- Family Thursday Nami- Family

PerspectivePerspective Jeanine OwensJeanine Owens

Jeanine OwensJeanine Owens

““Knew what could Knew what could be”be”

““Tired of what Tired of what was”was”

Community effort in Community effort in starting up the Mental starting up the Mental Health UnitHealth Unit Judge Polly Jackson SpencerJudge Polly Jackson Spencer Judge Oscar KazenJudge Oscar Kazen NAMINAMI Private HospitalsPrivate Hospitals Asst. Chief Harry Griffin (You must Asst. Chief Harry Griffin (You must

have a champion within the have a champion within the department)department)

How is the unit funded ?How is the unit funded ?

The unit currently consists of 2 The unit currently consists of 2 Patrol Officers and 1 Sergeant. Patrol Officers and 1 Sergeant. The City pays salaries and The City pays salaries and provides vehicles.provides vehicles.

The (LMA) Center for Health Care The (LMA) Center for Health Care Services provides office space Services provides office space and computers.and computers.

Working with Mental Health Working with Mental Health AssessorsAssessors

SAPD assists the Mental Health SAPD assists the Mental Health Assessors with calls that come Assessors with calls that come into the crisis line.into the crisis line.

SAPD will provide safety for the SAPD will provide safety for the assessors and also transport if the assessors and also transport if the patient requires further patient requires further treatment.treatment.

Duties of Mental Health Duties of Mental Health UnitUnitSergeantSergeant Receives reports from Receives reports from

patrol/referrals-prioritizespatrol/referrals-prioritizes Case ManagementCase Management

Mental Health OfficersMental Health Officers Respond to calls from patrolRespond to calls from patrol Assist with Crisis LineAssist with Crisis Line Internal request for follow up Internal request for follow up

Designing hours of Designing hours of operationoperation

Hours of operation was based on the Hours of operation was based on the amount of emergency detentions amount of emergency detentions conducted by patrol. Most ED’s conducted by patrol. Most ED’s occurred from 6pm – 4am. Mental occurred from 6pm – 4am. Mental Health Unit works from 8pm – 4am M-Health Unit works from 8pm – 4am M-F. F.

Regardless of hours of operation the Regardless of hours of operation the demand for a specialized CIT Unit demand for a specialized CIT Unit exists exists

How we dress and what we How we dress and what we drivedrive

Officers wear plain clothes and Officers wear plain clothes and drive an unmarked car. This is drive an unmarked car. This is vital for de-escalation and vital for de-escalation and developing rapport.developing rapport.

Mental Health Unit since inception Mental Health Unit since inception Dec. 2008 has ZERO use of force Dec. 2008 has ZERO use of force incidents.incidents.

Stat sheet and whyStat sheet and why

Data is very important for the Data is very important for the unit. The stat sheets reflect:unit. The stat sheets reflect:

Patrol officers returned to servicePatrol officers returned to service Patrol man hours saved … = $$$.Patrol man hours saved … = $$$. High UtilizersHigh Utilizers

Mental health courtsMental health courts

Mental Health Courts are utilized Mental Health Courts are utilized to assist consumers who are to assist consumers who are charged with a misdemeanor charged with a misdemeanor crime. crime.

If found guilty, the consumer has If found guilty, the consumer has to follow court guidelines such as; to follow court guidelines such as; follow up with Doctor, counseling, follow up with Doctor, counseling, and medication compliance.and medication compliance.

PrioritiesPriorities

PatrolPatrol High utilizersHigh utilizers TrainingTraining Assisting within our own Assisting within our own

Department Department

Who we trainWho we train

SAPDSAPD SAFDSAFD CadetsCadets Disp/call takersDisp/call takers BCSOBCSO School policeSchool police Agencies outside San AntonioAgencies outside San Antonio Non-police – APS, CPS, DA’s Office, ProbationNon-police – APS, CPS, DA’s Office, Probation

Learning as we goLearning as we go

Autism caseAutism case

Arson caseArson case

CIT Officer SelectionCIT Officer Selection

Announcement of positionAnnouncement of position Interview processInterview process Who comprises review boardWho comprises review board Questions askedQuestions asked

Future outlookFuture outlook

Expansion of the Unit. The Expansion of the Unit. The Mental Health Unit will add 2 Mental Health Unit will add 2 more Officers on June 11more Officers on June 11thth 2010. 2010.

With good data the Unit expects With good data the Unit expects to continue to grow.to continue to grow.