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Rohnert Park SAFE team logged more calls in 2024; council presses for stable funding
Summary
Chief told the council the SAFE mental-health response team answered roughly 2,600 calls in 2024 (up from ~1,800 in 2023), citing 2,229 dispatch calls, increases in welfare checks and suicide-related contacts, and a contract cost reported at about $196,600 to PPSC; council asked staff to seek long-term, multi-year funding amid state-level funding uncertainty.
Rohnert Park’s public safety chief told the City Council on March 25 that the SAFE (Specialized Assistance for Everyone) response team handled substantially more calls in 2024 than in 2023 and stressed the program’s role in reducing officer time spent on mental-health transports.
Key figures reported by the chief: total SAFE calls for service in 2024 were "just under 2,600," compared with just over 1,800 in 2023; total calls recorded through dispatch were 2,229. The chief said SAFE responded directly to many residents without dispatch, describing an increase in direct calls as community familiarity with the service grew. He also cited 474 welfare checks and 239 transports; the department reported 94 residents served for suicidal ideation, an increase of about 21 over the prior period.
The chief reported the city paid roughly $196,600 to PPSC to provide SAFE coverage 24/7 (the transcript shows the figure as "1,96,600," reported here as $196,600 given likely transcription formatting). He said the contract divides costs across partner jurisdictions, including the city and Sonoma State University, and explained that the program’s value includes freeing officers who otherwise would be tied up for hours waiting during hospital processing.
Council members pressed the chief and city manager on several sustainability and operational points: whether SAFE can accompany police training and ride-alongs, tracking voluntary versus involuntary 5150 transports (the chief said SAFE can transport many voluntary 5150s and cooperative holds but officers must still complete holds), mental-health bed availability in the region, and preparations to support both clients and SAFE staff wellbeing as demand grows. The chief said he will provide the council with breakout data for 5150 holds (voluntary vs. involuntary) and other requested numbers.
Councilmember Rodriguez and others raised funding concerns tied to state-level ballot changes (discussed as "Prop One/Proposition 1" in the meeting). City staff said the city currently funds part of SAFE from its general fund while much of the program relies on county or partner funding and that the council will see related requests during upcoming budget workshops; staff are advocating for multi-year contracts with partners for sustainability.
Practical information shared in the meeting: the SAFE direct non-emergency phone number was read aloud as 707-792-4611; the chief reiterated that in an emergency residents should call 911.
Next steps: Chief will provide requested 5150 and transport breakouts to council; staff will include SAFE funding considerations in the budget workshop and continue advocacy with county and state partners for multi-year arrangements.
