San Rafael extends SAFE alternative-response pilot through June 2027 after three-year review

San Rafael — The City Council on Feb. 2 authorized a one-year extension of the SAFE (Specialized Assistance for Everyone) alternative-response pilot, instructing the city manager to amend the contract with Petaluma People Services Center (PPSC) through June 30, 2027, at a not-to-exceed $775,000 per year.

Police Captain Todd Behringer, who leads SAFE operations, described the program as a health-centered response paired with an EMT: "The SAFE team responds 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, and now handles nearly 3,000 incidents annually," he said. Behringer credited the model with a measurable operational impact: SAFE interventions diverted 235 people from emergency departments and 183 people from the justice system over the pilot period and prevented about 337 ambulance transports. The team required law-enforcement backup in roughly 160 incidents (about 1%).

Aziz Majeed, program director for PPSC, shared client-level outcomes to show human impact: a bilingual intervention at a school that connected a 14-year-old to stabilization services and child-protective services, and a months-long engagement with a chronically unhoused individual that led to shelter, Section 8 housing and continuity of care.

Funding and sustainability were key topics in council questioning. Staff said the extension will be funded through a package of grants, the city's cannabis revenue and opioid settlement dollars, and that there is currently no identified permanent revenue beyond fiscal year 2027. Councilmembers pushed staff to pursue hospital partnerships, county grant collaborations, and AB109/probation funding where appropriate; Captain Behringer and staff said they will continue outreach.

Council vote: The council adopted the extension on a 5–0 roll call.

Operational note: The SAFE team dispatch phone number was provided during the meeting (staff read the number aloud for community members reporting a person in crisis).