“coast to coast” bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community
TRANSCRIPT
“COAST to COAST”Bridging the gap between law
enforcement and the community
Albuquerque Police Department’sCRISIS OUTREACH & SUPPORT TEAM
(COAST)
Presented by:
Goals and Objectives
What is COAST? Best Practices- Engage, Assess, and
Resolve Strategies to build or enhance your
community based program
COAST-What is it?
Crisis Outreach and Support Team Civilian Unit Created to:
Enhance the Albuquerque Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT).
Provide crisis intervention to people through direct referrals from field officers.
On scene response to field officer’s request for assistance.
Follow up calls or visits from officer’s report.
Why COAST? People cycle in and out of crisis causing People cycle in and out of crisis causing
repeated calls to police for non-law repeated calls to police for non-law enforcement issues. enforcement issues.
Proactive resource in decreasing unsafe Proactive resource in decreasing unsafe situations for individuals, the situations for individuals, the community, and law enforcement.community, and law enforcement.
Linking these people to services and Linking these people to services and resources is the best way to minimize resources is the best way to minimize these calls for police service.these calls for police service.
COAST- its conception July, 2003 APD Sgt. Carol Oleksak was shot by July, 2003 APD Sgt. Carol Oleksak was shot by
Duc Pham, a man with history of Duc Pham, a man with history of HomelessnessHomelessness Untreated mental illnessUntreated mental illness Over 50 Misdemeanor arrestsOver 50 Misdemeanor arrests
(released because no proof he was dangerous)(released because no proof he was dangerous) Incompetent to stand trial-every case!Incompetent to stand trial-every case! No supportive servicesNo supportive services
returned to police department to finish up her 20 year career
advocate for people living with mental illness
has forgiven and states “It’s not that they’re criminal. They need to have some sort of help.”
Sgt. Carol Oleksak
In early 2004, Mayor Martin Chavez of In early 2004, Mayor Martin Chavez of
Albuquerque calls for a summit of leadersAlbuquerque calls for a summit of leaders from: from: City governmentCity government Law enforcementLaw enforcement Healthcare service providers including mental Healthcare service providers including mental
health and homeless services.health and homeless services. Court system Court system Citizens Citizens
Crisis Calls for Change
MAYOR’S SUMMIT
Summit addressed:Summit addressed: How the City of Albuquerque can better How the City of Albuquerque can better
address the issues of mental illness and address the issues of mental illness and homelessness.homelessness.
Identify the gaps in services for mental Identify the gaps in services for mental health consumershealth consumers
Negative perceptions and relationships Negative perceptions and relationships between service providers and police between service providers and police officers.officers.
Resolution for “blame” (persons rights vs Resolution for “blame” (persons rights vs safety for self and others)safety for self and others)
Outcomes of Summit
City of Alb. Implemented pilot project = City of Alb. Implemented pilot project = COASTCOAST
Civilian project Civilian project City and police department begin looking at City and police department begin looking at
new ways to address old problems.new ways to address old problems. City deploys its first ACT Team City deploys its first ACT Team
(Assertive Community Treatment Team)(Assertive Community Treatment Team) City funds Housing First ProgramCity funds Housing First Program
Rising to the Occasion - 6 mos. later ““Bridging the Gap” between law enforcement Bridging the Gap” between law enforcement
and service providersand service providers City of Albuquerque houses COAST under City of Albuquerque houses COAST under
APDAPD APD begins new initiatives to address APD begins new initiatives to address
mental health, at risk individuals and mental health, at risk individuals and families, and homelessnessfamilies, and homelessness
Connect to CareConnect to CareStrategic Outreach TeamStrategic Outreach Team
Strong partnership beginsStrong partnership begins
COAST Interventions/Supports
Crisis Outreach & Support TeamCrisis Outreach & Support TeamCan link to low cost or free services Can link to low cost or free services
(counseling, case management, (counseling, case management, psychiatric services, community psychiatric services, community resources).resources).
Can do follow up- home visits, phone Can do follow up- home visits, phone calls, calls for service, provider f/ucalls, calls for service, provider f/u
COAST Provides
Crisis Intervention, Assessment, Stabilization, Crisis Intervention, Assessment, Stabilization, & Referrals:& Referrals:
•Mental Health Issues•The Homeless•Substance Abuse
•Basic Needs•Elderly Issues•Family Issues
Crisis Intervention & Response
C.O.A.S.T.
(Link / Refer)
COAST Psychiatrist
CIT Officers
Mental Health Facility
Men
tal H
ealt
h
Outreach
St. Martins
AHCH
Joy Junction
VA (Veterans)
Adult Protective Services
Senior Affairs
Human Service Div.
Social Security
Health Insurance
Housing
Food
MATS
MOTU
Turquoise Lodge
Substance
AbuseElderly Issues
Basic
Needs Homelessness
Best Practice for Crisis Intervention = Engage, Access & Resolve (EAR)
Paul Lilley - EAR model
(used for de-escalating mentally ill and other populations)
Paul Lilley’s CIT’s EAR model from “Perfecting (HA! HA!) de-escalation skills”
Engage – goal is to gain rapport
How you are presenting yourself Introduce yourself, ask for the person’s
name State the reason you are there in a way that
builds trust (make it about safety and empathy)
Scene management – remove distractions, upsetting influences, and disruptive people
Assessment – goal is to gather information needed
Ruling out/in mental illness Medical or drug/alcohol issues Was a crime committed Assess lethality if suicide or depression is an issue Talk to others at the scene Trust the experts! (family members or support can
be a great source of information)
Resolution – goal is voluntary compliance
Decide on a course of action Informal resolution ER room Mental Health Hospital Jail
Forecast – tell the person what you are going to do Leading – tell them what you expect and what you
need from them
KNOW YOUR RESOURCES!
Police officers have many tools in their Police officers have many tools in their toolbox. Know the resources available for toolbox. Know the resources available for which problems to be most effective.which problems to be most effective.
Effective problem solvers make less calls Effective problem solvers make less calls for service for everybody!!for service for everybody!!
Moving people on has absolutely no effect!Moving people on has absolutely no effect! Arrest and citation are not your only tools!Arrest and citation are not your only tools!
USE COAST…USE COAST…
COAST- call out First officers must make the scene safe;First officers must make the scene safe;
Ensure there are no weapons involved.Ensure there are no weapons involved. COAST cannot respond to combative COAST cannot respond to combative
subjects.subjects. COAST cannot respond to highly intoxicated COAST cannot respond to highly intoxicated
subjects or subjects with medical needs.subjects or subjects with medical needs. Officers must stay at the scene until the Officers must stay at the scene until the
COAST crisis specialist arrives and then brief COAST crisis specialist arrives and then brief them.them.
In a nutshell…. COAST is a resource for officer; they can COAST is a resource for officer; they can
help with calls that do not pose a danger to help with calls that do not pose a danger to public safety. public safety.
Police officers deal with people who are in Police officers deal with people who are in crisis and homeless. Know your resources crisis and homeless. Know your resources and how to access them.and how to access them.
Linking people in crisis to resources and Linking people in crisis to resources and services is the best way to minimize services is the best way to minimize repeated calls for police service.repeated calls for police service.
COAST - Where are we now? Staff Staff StatsStats Success storiesSuccess stories Alb Heading Home Project Alb Heading Home Project PERF recommendationsPERF recommendations Mental Health SummitMental Health Summit TrainingTraining
APD’s CIT and COAST Team
Staff consists of:
6 full-time COAST employees (crisis specialists)
Work in sync with 6 CIT detectives, over 125 CIT field officers, and one full-time psychiatrist
1 full-time COAST employee is assigned to Albuquerque Heading Home project
Daily StatsCrisis Types-Needs
Basic Needs
Child Care
Clothing
Food
Housing
Transportation
Benefits
Other Crisis Categories
CNAU displacement
Death Related/Grief
Elder Issues
Family Relations
Hoarding
Homelessness
Missing Person
Neighbor Problems
Runaway
Teen Issue
Tangible Data & Progress
2006- total people served ~ 1,447 Referrals from police~ 550
2011- total people served ~ 5,252Referrals from police ~ 780
SUCCESS STORIES
Lady who lived in a shoe Library baby sits Mr. Good / Mr. Bad Mr. Telephone man
Albuquerque Heading Home Project (http://www.abqheadinghome.org/)
City of Albuquerque teams up with private agencies to try to end homelessness.
Aims to house the most vulnerable of Albuquerque’s citizens experiencing homelessness.
Goal is to house 75 persons/families this year
Albuquerque Heading Home ProjectAlbuquerque Heading Home Projecthttp://youtu.be/aU4jtoznOtQ
Proactive NOT Reactive
Increase of police shootings had the community concerned and asking WHY?
APD/City hired an outside agency = Police Executive Research Forum (PERF),Washington,
DC.
PERF Recommendations
“…………Each of these initiatives represents and exemplary effort by the department to ensure that persons suffering
from mental illness or emotional disturbances are handled in the most appropriate manner.”
COAST recommendation - after CIT meets, debriefs, and scene is stable, COAST should reach out to the person and/or his/her family. This could decrease the negative perceptions and reactions between the police and this family in the future.
SUMMIT
Police Department initiated and hosted first annual mental health summit in conjunction with the Forensic Intervention Consortium (FIC)
To address the concerns of consumers and families to prevent potential tragedies with law enforcement
Continue the partnership between all stakeholders Network and build more relationships
SUMMIT OUTCOMES
Developed “IDEAS” – a mental health guide Created a facebook page for APD CIT and
COAST Implemented certified peer support training
related to courts and corrections for consumers in jail
Provide COAST/CIT contact information to all hospitals, jails, courts, and public defenders office
Improve dispatch training
TRAINING HB93HB93 cadetscadets service providersservice providers other law enforcement agenciesother law enforcement agencies facilitate CIT scenariosfacilitate CIT scenarios
How do you build or enhance your community based program? SOPSOP Job requirements & training Job requirements & training On-call- protocol for field & FACOn-call- protocol for field & FAC Program structureProgram structure Funding Funding Public Relations – bridging the gapPublic Relations – bridging the gap
Questions
Albuquerque Police DepartmentAlbuquerque Police Department
400 Roma NW400 Roma NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 924-6000(505) 924-6000