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Norristown residents press chief for co‑responder mental‑health team and clearer police policies
Summary
Town‑hall attendees urged Chief Trail to reinstate or establish a mental‑health co‑responder program, publish use‑of‑force policies (Lexipol), and act on a 95‑recommendation CPSM study; the chief pledged grant pursuit, Lexipol policy management and accreditation steps.
Residents at a Feb. 4 Norristown town hall pressed Mayor and Police Chief Trail to expand crisis‑response options and to make police policies more explicit after video circulated showing a police cruiser strike a man.
Speakers repeatedly called for a mental‑health co‑responder program that pairs clinicians with officers. Chief Trail said the department is pursuing grant funding and vendor contracts to bring a co‑responder program to Norristown and described prior grant work: at one point a PCCD grant figure of $131,000 was cited as an example of funding used elsewhere; the chief later referenced $191,000 as an expected amount for a current grant effort. The transcript contains both figures; officials said confirmation and contract signing are pending.
Community members asked that the department publish its written use‑of‑force policies and the CPSM operational study with 95 recommendations that a resident said cost taxpayers $72,125. Chief Trail said he has seen the CPSM study, will use it as a roadmap in conjunction with his crime plan and intends to restore policy transparency by posting policies and procedures online when allowed by legal constraints.
Several residents argued policy language should explicitly prohibit using a vehicle to strike a person as a first response. Chief Trail responded that policies are guidelines, the department has reinvested in Lexipol policy‑management software, and that a full evaluation of training, reporting and policy compliance will follow the independent DA investigation.
Community advocates also raised fear among immigrant and disability‑service populations about contacting police after the incident and requested stronger outreach and inclusion in policy changes. The chief said he invited community input and pledged to return to present findings and policy changes after the DA and internal reviews are completed.
The meeting closed at 7:30 p.m.; municipal staff said follow‑up contact information would be provided for those seeking more details.
