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Residents urge help for adults with severe mental illness; city points to 988 and county mobile crisis teams
Summary
Two residents used public communications to urge the city to help an adult living with severe mental illness and autism who is refusing treatment. City Manager Dan Buckshay and staff urged use of 988 and the county 3 mobile-response teams, outlined tiers of response and pledged immediate follow-up by police leadership.
During public communications, two residents described the prolonged decline of an adult with severe mental illness and autism and asked the city for help. Barbara Scott Crispi said the family had repeatedly contacted police and county offices without success; Linda Ruiz described her son's decline since 2021 and the difficulty of persuading providers or law enforcement to arrange hospitalization.
Mayor Wilk and City Manager Dan Buckshay responded on the record: Buckshay reiterated that 988 and the county's "3" mobile-response program are primary points of entry for crisis response. He described the 3 program as a 24/7 mobile service with varying levels of response—from peer support to EMTs or clinicians joining law enforcement when a situation is dangerous—and noted the county aims to have responders on site as warranted within about 20 minutes. Buckshay said dispatchers triage calls to identify the appropriate response and that if a situation is dangerous residents should call 911.
Buckshay and Mayor Wilk said city staff and police would follow up directly with the family who spoke at the meeting; Mayor Wilk asked Captain Connors and Captain Slater to meet with the family after the meeting.
Councilmembers later thanked the speakers and staff reiterated there are legal limits and criteria for involuntary treatment; Buckshay flagged statewide discussions (care courts and involuntary-treatment rules) as part of the broader policy context. Staff said they would look for community-based options and follow up with behavioral health partners.
The council did not take policy action at the meeting but agreed to follow up through police and behavioral-health channels to help the family and to clarify local options.
