Police Accountability Commission to host "Who You Gonna Call?" forum; Social Services Commission invited to participate

The Police Accountability Commission will host a public forum called "Who You Gonna Call?" aimed at helping Davis residents understand which services to contact for mental‑health, homeless outreach and other non‑criminal calls. The event will feature short presentations from community providers and staffed information tables.

Don Sherman, a member of the Police Accountability Commission, said the event will present half‑dozen organizations that will each give a brief description of their services and then host tables for follow‑up conversations. "After they give their little 5 minutes or so talk, they would chair a table and the public is invited to circulate among the tables," Sherman said.

Staff told the Social Services Commission the forum is intended to reduce unnecessary emergency dispatches and to help residents find alternatives to a police response when other services are more appropriate. Dana (staff) said dispatch and police department representatives will participate so attendees can also learn how the public‑safety dispatch triage process works.

Commissioners and staff discussed how the Social Services Commission could participate without violating the Brown Act’s limits on serial meetings. Staff advised that the commission may send up to two designated representatives to staff a table and help publicize the event; broader attendance by commissioners is permitted so long as they avoid collective deliberation outside of noticed meetings.

Sherman said invited presenters include behavioral health providers, homeless outreach groups, Paul’s Place, Downtown Streets Team and other local service providers. Organizers plan to circulate a flyer and will distribute it to commission members for sharing through their networks.

The forum is voluntary for commission participation; organizers asked the Social Services Commission to help publicize the event and to consider sending designated representatives to staff a table and answer public questions about how services and referrals work.

No formal commission action was required or taken at the meeting beyond confirming interest in publicizing and sending up to two representatives.