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Brockton Finance Committee endorses $50,000 jail‑diversion grant to expand clinician‑police response
Summary
The Finance Committee voted to recommend acceptance of a $50,000 state grant from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to fund a police‑clinician core response to behavioral‑health calls.
The Brockton Finance Committee on Aug. 18, 2025, voted to recommend that the City Council accept and expend $50,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to support a jail‑diversion, police‑clinician core response model.
Why it matters: The grant funds a paired response of a police officer and a mental‑health clinician to crisis calls. Committee members said the model has reduced escalation in the city and connected people to services.
Sergeant Skinner, who attended for Police Chief Brenda Perez, described the program’s results and said the clinician has de‑escalated situations and linked people to services. "I personally witnessed how the clinician has de‑escalated situations, offer the appropriate services for the person in crisis," he said.
CFO Dr. Troy Clarkson told the committee he had provided an update in a written memo and supported acceptance of the funds. The committee voted without opposition to recommend the grant acceptance favorably to the full City Council.
Ending: The recommendation will go to the full council for final acceptance and appropriation.
