Number
200632
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. LEWIS, KOVAC AND COGGS
Title
Resolution relating to establishing an unarmed first responder program.
Analysis
This resolutions directs the Fire and Police Commission and the Health Department to collaborate with the Police Department and the Fire Department to develop an interim master plan for responding to calls for service that do not involve a threat to public safety, particularly for those involving persons experiencing mental health, substance abuse or homelessness crises, with trained, unarmed first responders.
Body
Whereas, Traditional models for responding to 9-1-1 calls for service typically dispatch armed law enforcement personnel to most incidents, including those that involve persons that do not present a threat to public safety, but may be experiencing mental health, substance abuse or homelessness crises; and
Whereas, Law enforcement personnel may not have the depth of crisis response training and access to social service resources to respond effectively to such situations; and
Whereas, The addition of armed law enforcement personnel to a non-violent, non-criminal incident may also unnecessarily escalate a situation and lead to incarceration or other criminal sanctions from an incident that did not initially present a threat to public safety; and
Whereas, Shifting responsibility for responding to calls for service that do not present a threat to public safety to trained, unarmed first responders could reduce burdens on law enforcement resources; and
Whereas, Trained, professional, unarmed first responders could serve individuals in crisis with counseling, mediation, transportation and referral to appropriate social service resources while avoiding incident escalation and criminal sanctions; and
Whereas, Through its CAHOOTS program, a partnership between police and a local clinic, the city of Eugene, OR, has since 1989 successfully dispatched mobile teams of unarmed, civilia...
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