Commissioners approve six MOUs extending crisis intervention unit partnerships

Tom Green County Commissioners on March 4, 2025, approved six memoranda of understanding tying the county sheriff's Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) to local partners, the court said during its 8:30 a.m. meeting.

The MOUs, approved as separate motions after being grouped on the agenda, pair the CIU with the county district attorney's office (specific office identifier not specified in the record), Shannon Medical Center, the county domestic-violence prosecution unit, a local family shelter, the Open Arms Advocacy Center and the San Angelo Police Department. The court recorded the motions as approved with the customary “motion carries” confirmation for each item.

The sheriff's office representative told the court that Texas law requires law-enforcement agencies to have a liaison to assist crime victims and described the CIU's role as providing on-scene, 24/7 support and referrals; the unit has a paid coordinator and relies on volunteers, the sheriff's office said. Commissioners and staff said the agreements continue long-standing coordination; the transcript records the CIU operating in the county since 1999.

Commissioners and other speakers praised volunteer responders for night and weekend callouts and thanked CIU members for their assistance. No financial terms, expiration dates, or changes to staffing were specified in the publicly read motions or on the record at the meeting.

The court approved each MOU by separate motion. The approvals carry forward existing local partnerships intended to ensure a point of contact for victims and streamline referrals between law enforcement, medical providers and advocacy services.

The court adjourned at 8:42 a.m.