Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Casper delegation recommends 24/7 crisis diversion and council liaison after Edmonton exchange
Summary
A Casper delegation reported lessons from Edmonton through Peace in Our Cities, urging the city to appoint a councilor or staff liaison to the Natrona Council for Safety and Justice and to scope a 24/7 crisis diversion pilot, plus regular progress reporting and budget follow‑up in February.
A delegation that visited Edmonton as part of the Peace in Our Cities City Exchange told Casper City Council on Dec. 9 that Edmonton’s success rests on a coordinated hub model, civilian 24/7 crisis diversion responders and integrated data that links law enforcement, health and youth services.
Jacqueline, a member of the Casper delegation, said the City Exchange was intended to “build off of the good work that’s already happening” in Casper and to offer strategic ideas for unifying local programs. Shane, another delegation member, described Edmonton’s model — a REACH hub coordinating crisis diversion, youth services and housing — and recounted ride‑alongs with 24/7 civilian responders. “They were able to reduce violence by not asking police to do more, but creating kind of an ecosystem around the Police Department,” Shane said.
City staff and NCSJ (Natrona Council for Safety and Justice) presenters asked council to assign a councilor or city staff member to the NCSJ leadership team, to support development of a Casper blueprint for violence prevention to be led by Anna Kinder and the Public Health Department, and to consider funding expansions such as a true 24/7 crisis diversion team and emergency funds for a situation table for identified high‑risk individuals.
Council members pressed on likely budget implications and partners. One councilor asked whether a modest annual allocation (a ballpark “$100,000 a year” was floated) would be sufficient to start pilot activities and whether other local partners or the Trust might contribute. Police and parks staff said some early work could be done budget‑neutrally by refocusing existing personnel and absorbing initial efforts in current department workplans; they warned that larger, sustained operations would require future budget requests.
Council requested an update and scoping memo for February’s budget discussions and directed staff to bring the NCSJ team back to council with a progress report every three to six months. The council majority signaled preliminary support for appointing a staff member and a council representative to the NCSJ leadership team and for further scoping of the 24/7 crisis diversion option.
Next steps: staff will scope costs, partners and a February briefing tied to the budget calendar, and NCSJ agreed to provide routine progress reports so council can judge pilot outcomes before committing multi‑year funding.
