Policing Smarter With Local Resources Jason Jones Police Officer Behavioral Health Unit Portland Police Bureau jason.jones@portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0817
Ongoing PPB Strategy Core Competency Training Initial Response Resources Follow-Up Capability
P o s t C a l l D u r i n g C a l l Telecommunications - - Triage mental health calls - Transfer calls to crisis lines Patrol - Consult with ECIT Officers - Referrals for follow-up - Mental health resources Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team - Volunteer and vetted team members - Expanded resource knowledge - Risk assessment & communication skills Behavioral Health Response Team - Officer/MH clinicians partnerships Service Coordination Team - Supportive housing & treatment resources for houseless, chronic offenders with addictions Crisis Response Model R i g h t R e s o u r c e. R i g h t P l a c e. R i g h t T i m e.
ECIT Objectives Assess Advise Apply Crisis response resource Assess risk during crisis
Source: PPB BHU Crime Analyst Frank Silva (2018)
BHU Referrals Police make referrals through the BHU Electronic Referral System (BERS) Pertinent information regarding an individual s behavioral health status Screened and prioritized for BHRT follow-up On every desktop, MDC and laptop
Prioritizing BHU Referrals Risk to Others Frequent Contacts Escalating Behavior Risk to Self Other
BHRT Objectives Reduce risk & frequency of police contact Connect to community mental health resources
2017 BERS Referrals Summary Total Referrals* 968 Total Referrals Assigned for Follow-Up** 467 New Individuals Referred*** 639 Average Weekly Caseload 24.6 Most Prevalent Reasons Assigned: Escalating Behavior * Includes individuals with multiple referrals ** An individual may have more than one referral and more than one outcome *** Individuals who previously had not been referred to BHU 39% Inactive Cases (Outcomes)** 448 Most Prevalent Outcome: Coordinated Services 32% Previously on Caseload 33% Source: PPB BHU Crime Analyst Frank Silva (2018)
Community Resources 1225 NE 2nd Ave 24/7 availability Urgent Walk-in Clinic Mental health emergencies Daily 7am-10:30pm Project Respond Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Team 24/7 availability
Policing Smarter Latest Projects Optimize partnerships with social service organizations Reduce police responses to mental health facilities Identify gaps: persons with multiple mental health-related police contacts referred to BERS Share BHU-related information with the Crisis Line weekly
You re not in any trouble
Optimize partnerships with social service organizations
EMS Transports Modeled after program in Alameda, CA Developed and implemented local approach Police transfer custody to AMR Coincided with the opening of the Unity Center
Call Volume and Impact Approximately 1,000 police officer/director s custodies per year Approximately 1,570 suicide-related calls per year Approximately 100 reports of suicides In 2017, PPB instituted a process to help track the amount of mental health calls There was an average of 1,852.6 calls per month that were flagged as mental health Source: PPB BHU Crime Analyst Frank Silva (2018)
PPB Policy Complete a Report of Peace Officer Custody of an Allegedly Mentally Ill Person and provide the report to AMR or, in those extraordinary circumstances when the officer provides transport Source: PPB Directive 0850.21 Peace Officer Custody (Civil)
Mental Health Civil Custodies Police Officer Custody Director s Custody Peace Officer Custody Form Director s Custody Form AMR transport to Unity/Hospital AMR transport to Unity/Hospital Police report No police report if no police action
Toni Suicidal woman with knife Tried to stab family members Attempted suicide-by-cop 1 hour 15 minute negotiation with ECIT officer
Toni Resolved with transport to hospital by ambulance Aftercare: therapy and independent living 3 years: no new crisis-related incidents
Reduce police responses to mental health facilities Photo: Cascadia Secure Residential Treatment Facility: Arbor Place
What is the problem? Use-of-force involving police Tight budgets / contracts at facilities Clients need higher level of care Poor staff to client ratios Inadequate staff training High staff turnover No transport services
Police Response to MH Facilities Routine Crisis Line Administrator Urgent Crisis Line Proj Respond Emergency Police Fire/AMR Behavior management Serious events Criminal investigation Civil custody
Secure Residential Treatment Facilities Is anyone at the facility being assaulted or in immediate danger right now? Has anyone been injured? What are the injuries? Can the injured person be safely moved out of the building?
Why do this? EVALUATE NECESSITY FOR POLICE INTERVENTION MEET STAFF OUTSIDE GATHER KEY INFORMATION CLARIFY WHAT THEY WANT DEVELOP A PLAN
Designated MH Facilities Monthly report from crime analyst Trends, call-load-per-month comparison, spikes in calls-for-service
Facilities names Facilities names Facilities names MH Facilities Emails or calls from patrol Police reports Concerning crisis incidents Staffing, custody and/or transport issues Source: PPB BHU Crime Analyst Frank Silva (2017)
Project Respond Client Who writes the civil custody?
Example of Success Facility had a spike in calls supported by data Patrol officer called about a concerning incident CIT Coordinator read recent reports
Example Preliminary phone calls with staff Arranged meeting between staff and police Discussed issues Developed a plan for future incidents
Plan for Future Incidents Adjust staff start times Isolate and contain person in crisis Calls to program administrator Summon staff from nearby facilities first
Missing Persons Reports Medically fragile or immediately vulnerable? Fenced smoking area Additional needs registry GPS
Fewer Incidents And Program administrator now sends emails highlighting officer responses and good work Positive feedback is entered into officers records within the Employee Information System
What if the facility refuses to cooperate?
Identify gaps: persons with multiple mental health-related police contacts referred to BERS
Names Names Source: PPB BHU Crime Analyst Frank Silva (2017)
Heather Multiple, recent police contacts Trespassing Disorderly conduct Welfare checks Theft Criminal mischief (vandalism)
Heather Homeless Schizophrenia and addiction issues Service resistant: excluded from multiple programs and services Previously assigned to BHRTs Chronic user of jail and emergency departments
What can we do with Heather?
What can we do with Heather? Community Mental Health Providers Project Respond Mentally Ill Offenders P&P Social Services BHU Coordination Meeting Mental Health Court Forensic Diversion Multnomah County Sheriff s Office Involuntary Commitment Program
BHU Advisory Committee National Alliance on Mental Illness Consumers and advocates Mental Health America of Oregon Multnomah County Health Services Mental health providers Public Defenders Office Disability Rights of Oregon Coordinated care organizations Oregon Health Authority City government representative Bureau of Emergency Communications Multnomah County Sheriff s Office
Sharing Information with the Crisis Line 1,000 +/- BERS referrals per year 500 +/- assigned cases per year Project Respond Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Team 24/7 availability
QUESTIONS? Policing Smarter With Local Resources Data Questions? Jason Jones Police Officer Behavioral Health Unit Portland Police Bureau jason.jones@portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0817