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Mission Council approves renewed MOU to embed mental‑health clinician with police
Summary
The council approved a memorandum of understanding with Tropical Texas Behavioral Health to assign a clinician to Mission Police Department calls involving mental‑health or substance‑use needs for September 2025–August 2026, with automatic one‑year renewal unless either party opts out.
Mission — The Mission City Council on July 28 approved a memorandum of understanding with Tropical Texas Behavioral Health Center to assign a mental‑health clinician to assist the Mission Police Department’s mental‑health unit during calls for service.
The MOU covers the period September 2025 through August 2026 and provides for an automatic one‑year renewal unless either party gives written notice not to renew. Council approved the agreement with one abstention recorded in the meeting; the motion carried.
The nut graf: The agreement is designed to give police clinicians on‑scene access to behavioral‑health expertise, with the stated purpose of better distinguishing medical conditions from alcohol intoxication or other behavioral issues and linking people to care instead of solely responding with enforcement.
Chief Torres of the Mission Police Department said the MOU “provides an overview of the program and the responsibilities” and noted that the clinician would support officers during community calls. Staff and the city manager recommended approval.
Council approved the MOU and directed staff to proceed with the agreement. The police chief and staff said they will coordinate program implementation, scheduling and reporting with Tropical Texas Behavioral Health after the agreement is signed.
Action: Motion passed with four votes in favor and one abstention; staff did not name the abstaining member on the public record during the voice vote.
