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Berwyn chief outlines role of two social workers embedded with police; aldermen ask about library outreach and staffing
Summary
Chief Michael Somedayman described the department’s two contracted social workers, their duties, schedules and contract status with Advent Health; aldermen questioned whether social workers could increase presence at the library and who serves as departmental liaison.
Police Chief Michael Somedayman told the City Council that the Berwyn Police Department has two social workers who respond to calls, provide crisis intervention, coordinate mental‑health and housing resources, and follow up with victims of domestic violence and child‑victim cases.
Somedayman said the social workers are contracted through Advent Health and are not department employees. “They are very beneficial to us,” he said, describing their roles in helping place individuals needing hospital evaluation or shelter and in following up with domestic‑violence victims.
He said one social worker generally works a daytime shift (approximately 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and the other covers an afternoon/evening shift (about 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.); both are on call for after‑hours needs when possible. Somedayman said the social workers accompany officers to scenes when appropriate and that the department provides secure office space as part of the station renovation so social workers can meet people without bringing them into the secure areas of the station.
Aldermen asked whether social workers could have a more visible presence at the public library during cold weather to engage people who shelter there. Somedayman confirmed conversations with Tammy Sheedy, Berwyn Public Library director, and said social workers have worked with library staff and with an outreach provider (McNeil) to reduce the practice of dropping people at the library; he said the problem had not recurred in recent weeks.
Council members asked about supervision and turnover. Somedayman said the social workers are contracted employees whose supervisor (surname Curcavella) works for the health provider; the department maintains a liaison—previously a deputy chief and currently likely Commander Mike Fellows—who coordinates with the contractor. He said turnover has occurred because social workers sometimes move on to other positions and that budget constraints prevent adding a third social worker at this time.
Council discussion included whether the social‑worker program’s activities, outcomes or data could be shared with the council; Somedayman agreed to compile additional information and said the department would provide further details on request.
The council’s questions and the chief’s answers distinguished the social workers’ field support role from formal law‑enforcement duties: Somedayman said social workers do follow‑up with domestic‑violence victims and assist with petitions for hospital evaluation, but they do not go out to de‑escalate incidents in place of sworn officers.
