Council Could Add Mental Health Team To Police Department

PLEASANTON, CA — Pleasanton will consider embedding a mental health crisis response team within the police department's newly created alternative response unit, to reduce uniformed officers' response to mental health incidents and the unhoused.

The city council will decide whether to provide policy direction to staff regarding the program at its Tuesday meeting.

The program would be structured to send a licensed mental health clinician to respond to non-urgent requests for service that don't pose an immediate safety threat to the public.

Another option would be to send a clinician accompanied by a police officer with specialized training to situations in which police might be necessary.

The anticipated cost of the two-year pilot program is $844,462, which would provide two full-time clinicians and one part-time temporary program assistant. Most of the funding would come from the 2019/20 year-end general fund balance. Costs over $800,000 would come from the 2021-22 mid-year budget.

The move comes in response to the national movement for police reform. The city has hosted listening sessions at which residents expressed a desire for better response to mental health crisis.

A work group consisting of city and police officials, mental health professionals, and city residents was formed, which later recommended the formation of the new team.

Other cities around the country have made similar moves, including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose, Fremont, Houston, and Eugene, Ore.

If approved, the program would begin in January. The Pleasanton City Council meets virtually at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting can be viewed on Zoom or YouTube.

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