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Council extends contract for police‑embedded mental‑health clinician after first‑year review
Summary
After a year of embedded co‑response work, the council authorized a contract amendment to continue a police‑embedded mental‑health clinician through June 30, 2026 (up to $146,445). Staff reported 135 dispatched incidents, 111 follow‑ups, and evidence of reduced involuntary detentions and 911 calls in jurisdictions using the model.
Police Chief Matt Ltheine and mental‑health clinician Janella reviewed the first year of San Bruno’s Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team, a co‑response model that embeds a clinician with police to respond to mental‑health crises.
Chief Ltheine said the clinician responded to 135 dispatched incidents in year one and conducted an additional 111 follow‑ups. He summarized case outcomes: 64 incidents were resolved through alternate approaches, nine individuals agreed to voluntary transport for psychiatric assessment, and 55 incidents resulted in involuntary psychiatric holds (5150). The program provides immediate field stabilization and warm handoffs to county behavioral health and longer‑term case management.
Janella described wraparound work that follows an initial contact, including resource linkage, temporary placements and referrals to county teams. She recounted a case (pseudonyms used) where repeat 911 calls ceased after integrated field engagement, crisis response, a hospital hold and coordinated follow‑up that connected the person to persistent outpatient services.
StarVista, the nonprofit originally employing the clinician, closed in August; staff secured a two‑month contract to maintain continuity and asked council to authorize an amendment to continue services through June 30, 2026. The council approved the resolution to extend the consultant agreement and appropriate up to $146,445 for the service period; staff said Justice Assistance Grant reimbursement is available for the program.
Council discussion focused on long‑term funding, regional coordination with county partners, and whether the model should be scaled or regionalized. Several council members praised the program’s outcomes and supported continued evaluation with Stanford’s John W. Gardner Center evaluation partner.
Next steps: finalize the consultant amendment through June 30, 2026, continue data collection and evaluation, and explore funding and potential regional approaches for program sustainability.
