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Berkeley officials report SCU has handled roughly 1,500 calls since 2023; council presses on scope and staffing
Summary
City staff said the Specialized Care Unit (SCU) has received more than 1,500 calls since its September 2023 launch, was dispatched to about 800 of them and handled approximately 700 without law enforcement; council and public commenters raised concerns about scope, pay and public awareness.
City staff and the SCU's lead briefed the council on the program's progress and limits, and councilmembers pressed for clarity about where the unit can and should be deployed. Scott Gilman described the SCU as an unarmed pilot "made up of an EMT, a licensed clinician, and a peer with lived experience" and said the SCU "began providing services in 09/05/2023."
Gilman gave operational counts: "the team has received over, or has received over 1,500 calls for services. Of those 1,500 calls, the team was dispatched to approximately 800 calls. Once on the scene...700 of the calls didn't include law enforcement in any way." Councilmembers and public commenters urged clearer outreach to residents about which number to call and emphasized retention and pay concerns for SCU staff. Several speakers, including Councilmember Luna Parra, asked staff to ensure public education materials explicitly outline the SCU's purpose and limitations so residents understand when to call SCU versus 911.
