Resident urges caution on EMS-only mental-health responses; board highlights 988, training and a possible $350,000 SAMHSA grant
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Summary
During public comment, Duane Martin urged the board not to send EMS to mental-health calls without law-enforcement backup; commissioners described plans to pursue 988 usage, CIT training and a potential SAMHSA grant to improve crisis response coordination.
A Bonner County resident told the ambulance board on Nov. 19 that he is concerned about sending EMS personnel to mental-health calls without law-enforcement backup, and asked whether the district pays anything for the TAN unless money is drawn.
Duane Martin identified himself as "Bonner County resident" and asked: "On the tan, there is only a cost to the ambulance district if they utilize any of that money. Correct?" He continued, "One of the concerns... is that they are not sending police officers out, that they are either sending mental health people out on calls or they're sending EMS out without backup... I have a concern with that that you're putting those people at risk, without having law enforcement." (Duane Martin, public comment.)
Speaker 3 acknowledged the concern and said staff would forward a SAMHSA grant opportunity for a community paramedic program and pursue training and coordination options. "I'll send you that," Speaker 3 said, and described free CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) training the district was offered after a recent conference. Speaker 3 noted a SAMHSA grant with "Dollars 350,000. I would like to get that money." The board discussed working with local law enforcement and using the 988 crisis line more effectively while arranging additional training and coordination to reduce risk.
The exchange left the topic as an area for follow-up: staff will forward grant information, and the board discussed scheduling training and local outreach to clarify how EMS, law enforcement and 988 would interface in crisis calls.