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College Station police outline expanded mental‑health response, council seeks broader community plan
Summary
Police Chief Couch told the council the department now has a full‑time care team and 20 crisis intervention members, boosting tracked mental‑health responses to about 1,300 a year; council directed staff to convene community partners and explore options including mental‑health courts and regional inpatient capacity.
Mayor John P. Nichols invited Chief Couch to brief the City Council on the police department's mental‑health response at the Jan. 8 meeting.
Chief Couch said the department has stood up a Care Team (two full‑time positions funded initially by grants) plus 20 crisis‑intervention officers across patrol and Northgate, and that staff work closely with MHMR of the Brazos Valley and area schools. "These members manage caseloads, proactively reach out, and are responsive to our partners," Chief Couch said. He added that MHMR has an office adjacent to the police care team to enable immediate coordination.
The chief presented data showing an increase in recorded mental‑health consumer…
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