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Orono/Arnold police report: officers report uptick in mental-health and welfare checks
Summary
Police reported a general November activity review with no unusual incidents, a rise in mental-health/welfare checks, use of CIT-trained officers and embedded social workers, and staffing updates including backgrounding three patrol candidates and a new officer in FTO.
At the start of the meeting the council received the November activity report from the contracted police representative. The officer said the department saw an increase in mental-health and welfare-check calls and noted no specific major spikes beyond seasonal expectations.
The department said it is relying on CIT-trained officers and embedded social workers to respond to behavioral-health-related calls. Staff also said overnight parking enforcement has increased as winter arrives and that public works and police coordinate to keep roads clear during snow events.
On staffing the department is backgrounding three candidates for one patrol opening; the newest hire, Colton Beck, is completing field training. The department also reported participation in community events, including a tree-lighting and support for the Polar Plunge fundraising event.
Council members asked follow-up questions about staffing and K-9 deployment; the officer noted the dog "Onyx" is heavily deployed across the county and used for welfare and missing-person responses.
The council did not take formal action on the report; it was received for the record.
