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Newcastle council unanimously backs King County's Therapeutic Response Unit
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Summary
The Newcastle City Council voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution expressing formal support for the King County Sheriff's Office Therapeutic Response Unit after a presentation on the unit's co-response mental-health model and operational readiness in Newcastle.
Mayor Ariana Sherlock called the meeting to order and invited the King County Sheriff's Office's Therapeutic Response Unit (TRU) to brief the council on its co-response model.
Chief Mandela introduced the unit and TRU staff Susie Kroll and Casey Byrne described a program that embeds licensed mental-health professionals alongside deputies to de-escalate crises, navigate services and provide continuity of care. Susie Kroll said TRU takes a different approach to many law-enforcement contacts: "Jail isn't the best answer all the time when we find someone who's in violation of some of our laws." She and Byrne explained that TRU mental-health professionals co-train with deputies, sign onto deputies' call signs and help dispatchers route appropriate calls to co-response teams.
Council members asked how TRU is dispatched, how many staff are currently employed and how Newcastle would be served. TRU staff said the unit currently has five mental-health professionals countywide, is hiring additional staff, and can be dispatched across precincts when an MHP is available. TRU staff reported handling large call volumes during the program's build-out and said they also participate in outreach and training with schools and other local partners.
Deputy Mayor Charbonneau moved to adopt Resolution 2026-1086 expressing Newcastle's support for TRU. Council members praised the program's training and diversion focus; one council member said TRU could "save someone's life" by offering alternatives to arrest. The council voted unanimously, 7-0, to adopt the resolution.
The resolution does not commit Newcastle to any funding; it expresses formal support for TRU and signals local interest in onboarding and partnership. Council members said staff will follow up on next steps for local coordination, including training opportunities and contact lists for dispatch and outreach.
The council's immediate procedural action was adoption of the resolution; TRU staff left the meeting with council encouragement to continue community outreach and to coordinate training and dispatch details with Newcastle staff.
