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SOP-SSD-23 SAFE Team- Mobile Crisis InterventionSupport Services Division SOP-SSD-23 Date Issued: 11/5/2021 SUBJECT: SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE FOR EVERYONE (SAFE) TEAM – MOBILE CRISIS INTERVENTION PURPOSE AND SCOPE: To establish guidelines for the situations in which the Mobile Crisis Response or SAFE Team should be dispatched for assignment by the Communications Center or requested by department personnel. The intent of the SAFE Team is to respond to and deliver services related to mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness. PROCEDURE: A. General Information a. The SAFE Team is staffed with one EMT and one mental health crisis worker b. The SAFE Team is not armed and are not authorized to perform any law enforcement duties. c. If there is an indication of violence or weapons the SAFE Team cannot assist until the situation is deemed safe by a Supervisor, or other police/fire department personnel. d. Any time a request for service involves a crime, a potentially hostile person, a potentially dangerous situation (to involved person or the public in general) or an emergency medical problem the call should not be assigned to the SAFE Team and should be dispatched by the Communications Center in accordance with current protocols for police, fire, or EMS services. e. The SAFE Team should only be dispatched and respond to incidents in the city limits of Rohnert Park unless directed otherwise by a Supervisor. B. Confidentiality a. The SAFE Team should not be provided any criminal justice information or any other information from law enforcement databases (e.g. RMS, CLETS, DAT Site). If you are unsure what information can be released, check with a Supervisor. b. The SAFE Team can be provided the addresses for persons involved in welfare checks or similar calls. Those addresses can be provided so the SAFE Team can check on the welfare of the associated individual(s). The subjects name can be provided and the date of birth upon request. c. If additional information is needed (i.e. researching names, DL p hotos) you can let them know you can send the information to an officer and they may release the information to the team. C. Call Types Appropriate for Dispatching to the SAFE Team a. The following call types and situations have been identified as being appropri ate for the SAFE Team to respond to or otherwise assigned. If you have a question about whether or not the SAFE Team is able to assist on a particular call, check with a Supervisor. i. Intoxicated subjects in public places (647(f) PC) ii. Non-violent subjects under the influence of controlled substances in public places (11550 HS) iii. Persons needing non-medical care or treatment for mental illness (voluntary 5150 WI) iv. Persons in need of shelter/housing services occupying public and private property (602 PC, 647(e) PC) v. Welfare checks (when no crime is suspected) vi. Minor medical complaints that do not require emergency medical care vii. Transports for non-emergency medical care, mental health crisis, shelter, or substance abuse services viii. Family disputes where there is no indication of a criminal violation, weapons, or potential of violence ix. Civil dispute resolution x. Collection of drug paraphernalia for destruction xi. Report of disoriented person(s) xii. At the request of Police or Fire personnel on scene of an incident D. Communications Call Handling a. The Communications Center will be responsible for reviewing each call received and determine if it meets the criteria for dispatching the SAFE Team for handling. b. Dispatchers will be responsible for capturing the reporting party’s: i. Contact information ii. Description of the involved person needing assistance iii. Locations of all involved parties iv. A brief description of the services requested v. Additional information such as known means of harm for suicidal subjects, i.e. suicidal ideations or access to weapons, narcotics, or medications and whether or not they have ingested them vi. On non-emergency medical evaluation and transport requests dispatchers need to confirm that medics are not needed or requested vii. Dispatchers should refrain from providing reporting parties with an estimated response time for the SAFE Team viii. If there is any concern for safety, send law enforcement along with the SAFE Team as a precaution E. Dispatching the SAFE Team and CAD Documentation a. Calls are triaged based upon urgency, not simply by lengt h of time holding. Calls such as suicidal subjects or those posing a safety risk to the person involved (intoxicated subject at risk of falling into traffic) should be dispatched before non-urgent requests. b. The SAFE Team may on-view situations while they are in the field. They will advise over the primary radio channel what they are out with and may ask for Law Enforcement/Fire Department to respond as well. Create a CAD event with the appropriate event type and notify necessary resources. c. The SAFE Team will be tracked in CAD just like any other law unit if they are unable to utilize their MDC: i. If the SAFE Team on-views a situation they will advise over the primary radio channel: 1. Create an event in CAD using the Event Type “SAFERP”. If Law Enforcement/Fire Department is needed create an associated event with the appropriate event type. 2. Track in CAD (Dispatched, Arrived, Clear, and document remarks related to the call) 3. If the SAFE Team is primary on the call use the Disposition Code “MHT” (Mental Health Team) to clear the call 4. If Law Enforcement/Fire Department is primary use the Disposition Code “MHR” (Mental Health Response) to clear the call ii. If the SAFE team is dispatched to a Call for Service without Law Enforcement/Fire Department: 1. Create an event in CAD using the Event Type “SAFERP” 2. Track in CAD (Dispatched, Enroute, Arrived, Clear, and document remarks related to the call) 3. Use the Disposition Code “MHT” (Mental Health Team) to clear the call iii. If the Team is requested by Law Enforcement/Fire Department: 1. Create an Associated Event and use the appropriate Event Type “SAFERP” 2. Track in CAD (Dispatched, Enroute, Arrived, Clear, and document remarks related to the call) 3. Use the Disposition Code “MHT” (Mental Health Team) to clear the call for the SAFE Team 4. Use the Disposition Code “MHR” (Mental Health Response) to clear Law Enforcement/Fire Department F. Radio Communications a. The SAFE Team units are identified as “Q” Queen units and should be dispatched via the primary radio channel. b. They will monitor the primary radio channel to decide what calls they will respond to and/or if Law Enforcement/Fire Department request them to a call they are on. c. The SAFE Team should be advised of priority calls (police assist, subjects in immediate crisis, etc.) pending for them while they are on other calls. They may be able to clear sooner than they otherwise would have, particularly on counseling calls.