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Home My WebLink AboutCITIZEN REVIEW BOARD - MINUTES - 07/10/2024CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 5:30 PM 281 N. College, Conference Room A Regular Meeting This information is available in Spanish or other languages at no cost to a person who would like this information translated or communicated in Spanish, or another language. Please call (970)416-4254 or titlesix@fcgov.com to make a request for information in other languages. Esta información está disponible en español u otro idioma, sin costo para la persona que le gustaria esta información traducida o comunicada en español u otro idioma. Favor llame al (970)416-4254 o a titlesix@fcgov.com para solicitor información en otros idiomas. Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. TTY: please use 711 to call (970)221-6753. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Called to order by Shamera at 5:35 PM 2. ROLL CALL: a. Board Members Present: Shamera Loose, Amy Hoeven, Elizabeth Grant, Mike O’Malley, Melissa Rosas, Veronica Olivas, Michael Ruttenberg b. Staff Members Present: Assistant City Attorney Sara Arfmann, Sgt. Kim Cochran, Jessica Jones 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION a. Public Input – Madison Waldruff is observing tonight’s CRB meeting 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. June 12, 2024: Mike O’Malley moved to approve with the correction of removing a bullet point from Section D, which was seconded by Amy Hoeven. Motion passed. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Voicemail: None b. E-mail: 1 email from Cheryl Trine, which is being followed on by Lt. Jeremy Yonce c. Training: Mental Health Response Team: CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING Officers Andy Leslie and Chris Bland gave a presentation about FCPS’s Mental Health Response Team, which is a collaboration between FCPS, UCHealth, and Summitstone. Mental Health Response Teams are made up of 4 certified officers and 4 co-responder clinicians, who are licensed social workers who have the ability to write mental health holds. Board Member Question: Did the pandemic make matters worse for the Mental Health Response Team? Yes, especially for adolescents, due to a sudden lack of structure in their lives. The rest of the community’s statistics remained at similar levels, but the pandemic did help reduce the stigma around mental health in general. Board Member Question: Are clinicians trained in Officer Safety tactics? Yes, they go through much of the same training at the Police Academy as the police officers; however, it is important for both the clinician and the officer to understand their roles and stay in their lanes. Board Member Question: Is it Dispatch that determines whether a MHRT is needed on the scene? No, the MHRT screens all calls. One out of four families deal with mental health issues, and FCPS does not want Dispatch as the unit responsible for determining where they are needed. Board Member Question: Are the teams allowed to obtain premise history? The co-responder clinicians are, as they have access to the UCHealth system, but they can only share specific information with the officers due to HIPPA. The history of MHRT is related to the mass closing of mental institutions, and the fact the police officers are available 24/7 to assist, so they are frequently called to the scene when some one is having mental health issues; however, mental health disorders and substance abuse issues should not be criminalized, and while having MHRT teams respond does not always change the outcome of situation, it ensures that additional resources can be provided as well to people struggling with these issues. Co-responders have the ability to do follow up calls, and provide additional resources to family members. Because of the MHRT program, FCPS has seen less repeat offenders over time whose primary issues are mental health struggles. CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING Board Member Question: After transporting a person to jail, are officers able to let staff know that the individual is experiencing a mental health condition? Yes, though these teams rarely transport people to jail. More often, they are taken to crisis centers, or are able to stabilize in place. The jails also have mental health pods now, so they are segregated from the general jail population. Board Member Question: Is Longview fully operational? No, they do not have all beds open, so MHRTs often transport people first to PVH, who can determine if Longview is the correct place for them. Longview isn’t currently able to handle aggressive patients, or patients with intense substance abuse issues. FCPS officers receive ongoing training about disorders like dementia and delusions. Board Member Question: Are judges trained to recognize that people need help? There is only one judge that sits on Wellness Court, and they are trained to spot issues. Board Member Question: Are hospitals in Colorado allowed to refuse to treat patients? No, the ER is required by law to accept them. Board Member Question: If there is a call for a MHRT that involves someone who has a felony assault, are the co-responders issuing a mental health hold, or are the police officers? Either party can issue a hold, but they try to avoid being the ones to do it, because they are recognizable in the community and want to be considered a resource for people. Board Member Question: Is our system getting an influx of individuals from other places, like Estes Park? No, FCPS hasn’t noted any trends towards individuals from Estes Park coming to Fort Collins for services. CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING Board Member Question: How does the system decide whether the HOPE team of the MHRT responds? The HOPE team handles homelessness issues, and many people in that population are already well aware of the resources available to them, but the two teams do collaborate together. Board Member Question: How many MHRT members are bilingual? None, but many of them have apps that assist with immediate, live translation services. Board Member Question: It is concerning that clinician positions are funded by grants. Is the MHRT program’s growth limited by lack of funding? Their positions are only partially funded through grant funding, so if the grant funding was lost, we would not lose these positions. UCHealth and FCPS would ensure that it continued, but FCPS would love to know that funding was secured. Co-responder roles need to grow so that they are recognized formally and legislatively to ensure that there are different, more severe charges for assaulting them, similar to laws that protect police officers and nurses. The MHRT is available to take ride-along requests, so board members can email them with any questions that they have. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS a. Veronica Olivas did a ride-along with Office Nash. The majority of the calls they went on dealt with homelessness and mental health. He was very professional. She also did a ride-along with Corporal Seimann, who was a very impressive officer with a lot of knowledge. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Sgt. Kim Cochran informed the board that PSU2024-011 is scheduled to to be available for the subcommittee to review on July 12 but is ready to be sent. Board members will receive the case for review on July 11. Shamera will follow up with Lt. Jeremy Yonce to find out if next month’s training for the regular meeting can be rescheduled to ensure that the subcommittee can meet afterwards. Assistant City Attorney Sara Arfmann confirms that the meeting may be held remotely, if necessary. CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD (CiRB) REGULAR MEETING 10. ADJOURNMENT: Michael Ruttenberg moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Elizabeth Grant. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM. Approved by a vote of the board on 08/14/2024