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Killeen council authorizes Bell County diversion center use, funds co‑responder and expands substance‑use treatment contract
Summary
Council approved an interlocal agreement to use Bell County’s diversion center, authorized a $30,000 city contribution to restart a KPD mental‑health co‑responder position, and approved a third amendment to a contract with Centex ARC for substance use disorder services totaling $232,639.
The Killeen City Council on Sept. 2 authorized three measures designed to expand alternatives to incarceration for people experiencing mental health or substance use crises. The council approved an interlocal agreement with Bell County and Central County Services to use the Bell County diversion center, authorized a $30,000 city contribution to restart a Killeen Police Department mental‑health co‑responder program, and approved a third amendment to the professional services agreement with Centex ARC for substance use disorder counseling and treatment.
Chief Lopez described the diversion center arrangement as a cooperative effort between law enforcement and mental‑health professionals to redirect adults charged with misdemeanors while experiencing a mental‑health crisis away from jail and into treatment. “The purpose is to identify, apprehend, and divert individuals 18 years of age and older who commit misdemeanor offenses while experiencing a mental health crisis from incarceration to appropriate mental health treatment solutions,” Chief Lopez said. He added that Killeen officers have participated on the steering committee, training on referral and de‑escalation, and that the agreement “will automatically renew each year for not more than 5 years. There's no cost to the city of Killeen.”
Council also approved an amendment to an interlocal agreement with Central County Services to provide $30,000 in city funding to support the co‑responder position after state grant funding lapsed. Chief Lopez said Central County Services will invoice the city monthly beginning Oct. 1 and that the police department has budgeted funds in FY2026 to cover the contribution.
Separately, staff presented a third amendment to the Centex ARC professional services agreement, increasing the contract to $232,639 to fund scholarship beds and wraparound substance‑use treatment. Centex ARC Executive Director Mark Baker told the council the program has served 15 clients from the city’s outreach efforts, and that, “all but 1 have been successfully rehabilitated and transformed into permanent housing.” Baker said the program’s per‑client cost equates to about $169 per day and that the money covers housing, food, transportation and counseling.
Council members expressed support for the diversion and treatment priorities; the measures were adopted as staff recommended.
