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Critique of, and input regarding, the MOU of the dubiously titled "Community Wellness <br />and Crisis Response Team Mental Health Partnership" (Pilot Program) <br />Funding <br />• Redwood City Police Department requests and additional increase to its budget at <br />$156,182 over two years. <br />o The amount should instead be taken from the current police department budget <br />because the program asks the clinician to perform duties that patrol officers <br />currently provide. <br />Resource Level <br />The pilot program should operate 24/7. Mental health crises do not always occur during <br />normal business hours; nor do they occur only Monday through Friday. If the issue is a <br />lack of funding, Redwood City should hire two additional clinicians, and loan them to San <br />Mateo County BHRS. A secondary benefit is that when the pilot program concludes, <br />these employees may transfer to the county or begin reporting to the Office of the City <br />Manager. As their activity enables fewer Police Officer interactions with the Redwood <br />City populace, funds can be transferred from the Redwood City Police Department <br />budget to cover the cost of clinicians. <br />Racial Equity <br />• The 2010 U.S. Census indicates the following ethnic percentages of Redwood City's <br />population: <br />o White 44%; <br />o Hispanic/Latino 39%; <br />o Asian 11 %; <br />o Black/African American 2%; <br />o All others 4%. <br />It should come as no surprise that as much as 41 % of Redwood City's populace <br />(Hispanics and African Americans) are not equitably served by this program as they are <br />reluctant to make any calls for assistance that result in contact with police officers — not <br />even for such things as domestic violence and abuse. <br />Influence of Law Enforcement Police Culture <br />The MOU indicates that the police department provides a desk office space for the <br />clinician. <br />o Our objection is that this puts the clinician in the middle of police culture, resulting <br />in a negative impact on the clinicians arm's length, independent relationship and <br />professional integrity. As the clinicians unwittingly absorb police culture, their <br />credibility with patients they encounter while performing their work will be <br />compromised. <br />Data Collection and Analysis <br />• The clinician will be provided access to police data. The Gardner Center will conduct <br />regular data analysis to determine the program's effects, assess outcomes, and consider <br />appropriate adjustments. <br />o The data elements are not specified in the MOU. Even if specified in the <br />document, we are not confident that Redwood City's police database is <br />structured — keys and fields defined with appropriate numerical type, and integrity <br />— that would enable structured relational analytics. <br />