Item B: Annual Meeting with Police Commission

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The committee has identified a series of next steps for its work on the draft Taser policy and other use of force policies. It also plans to participate in evaluating the results of the pilot project to develop recommendations for future deployment of Tasers. Action on the draft policy is planned for the September 2007 Police Commission meeting and review of the pilot project results is anticipated for the Spring of 2008. B. Mental Health Crisis Response Committee - Progress to Date The Mental Health Crisis Response Committee embarked on an ambitious project to evaluate training models and best practices applicable to Eugene related to interventions with people experiencing mental health crisis. Given themulti-faceted nature of this topic, the committee attempted to contain this review to models that focus on crisis response/intervention by police and agencies that partner closely with law enforcement. It began its work with a substantive literature review and then conducted a series of meetings with stakeholders to gather information on current services provided, protocols and practices for provision of those services, constraints, and other trends. These discussions were structured to create opportunities for focused community dialogue on issues around police interactions with people in crisis, seeking ideas for improvements from mental health consumers/advocates, public safety partners, and the experience of police officers. The committee has coordinated the following stakeholder presentations: Feb. 15 -9-1-1 Center - CAHOOTS (“Crisis Assistance Helping Out On the Streets”) March 7-NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) andASSERT (Approved Steps to Supplement Emergency Responder Training) -Children & Adolescents Mental Health Crisis Response Program March 21 -Sacred Heart Emergency Crisis Team April 4-Lane County Jail (Medical Team) -Mental Health Court April 18-Eugene Police officer panel -Parents: Jeffery & Denise Salisbury May 2 -Lane County Mental Health May 16- Legal Advocates and Consumer Panel June 6- Clackamas County Crisis Intervention Team Training June 20- Human Rights Commission Subcommittee on Mental Health Panel Based on the models reviewed and stakeholderinput, the committee has begun to synthesize the wealth of information collected to formulate preliminary recommendations. Given continuing concerns that existing critical services will suffer further reductions, the group will also prioritize options for feasibility and seek champions to carry forth other strategies. In spite of attempts to limit the committee’s review to police-oriented models, response to people in mental health crisis is necessarily a systemic issue and the role of police is not easily compartmentalized. Therefore the committee’s recommendations may include not only suggestions for police training and policy, but also promising models to enhance police partnerships with medical and social service providers. The committee has committed to an aggressive timetable to share its recommendations with the full Police Commissionin October, prior to membership transition. Page 6 of 8 2007 Police Commission Annual Report