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Behavioral Health Court honors officer for ongoing support; commission praises cross‑agency collaboration
Summary
Representatives from Behavioral Health Court presented a new community service award and recognized Officer Apodaca for repeated engagement with a client, praising cross‑agency collaboration that the court said reduces recidivism and violence.
Representatives of San Francisco’s Behavioral Health Court joined the Police Commission to present the court’s first community service award to an SFPD officer who regularly engaged with a client enrolled in the court. Deputy Public Defender Jennifer Johnson and Assistant District Attorney Lisa Kogan described the court as a collaborative effort involving the judge, Department of Public Health, Citywide Case Management, probation and jail psychiatric services.
They said Officer Apodaca attended court proceedings, built rapport with the client, and helped the person access services rather than rely on arrest and incarceration. "He actually became his friend," a Behavioral Health Court representative said, and the court credited the officer’s efforts with helping reduce recidivism and violence for that client population. Chief Fong and several commissioners praised the partnership and congratulated the officer.
Commissioners said the award highlights a model of cross‑agency cooperation and asked the department to continue partnerships that divert people with severe mental illness from traditional criminal justice processing where appropriate.
