Vallejo, California Development News

Valo PD Enhances Domestic Violence and Behavioral Health Response Models

The Valo Police Department presented an update on their enhanced response to domestic violence program, VORT. Lieutenant Kai detailed the program's collaborative efforts with vest, outlining discussions on plans, risk assessment protocols, training, and funding. Since training, multiple referrals to vest have been made, and dispatchers also received training. A pamphlet for the program is nearing completion and will be available online soon. Tanya Brown Rigg from VORT presented the program's objectives, highlighting its survivor-centered model designed for Valo, connecting law enforcement, vest, and community partners for immediate crisis response, advocacy, housing, and therapy. The program aims to improve survivor safety, support law enforcement, increase access to services, and reduce repeat offenses. The framework is built on four pillars: Identify, Response, Support, and Prevent. The presentation also touched on the budget and the coordination with other programs like iHeart, with discussions on potential grant funding and inter-agency collaboration. Council members raised questions about intervention with prolific offenders, budget specifics, and how iHeart and VORT dovetail and access similar grant funding. Deputy Chief Sanjay Ramroa noted capacity issues with grant applications but expressed willingness to collaborate. Council members also stressed the importance of a systems thinking lens and exploring funding interconnections. The discussion also covered the Valo Police Department's behavioral health response model, involving partnerships with iHeart and Mobile Crisis. Lieutenant Darden explained the coordinated response model, where police handle public safety concerns, and Mobile Crisis responds to low-risk behavioral health calls independently. For behavioral health crises with public safety concerns, police and iHeart respond together. The model aims to reduce unnecessary arrests and hospitalizations, improve outcomes, and allow officers to focus on emergencies. Statistics on mental illness in Valo were presented, showing a significant number of residents affected. Training for officers in crisis intervention (CIT) was discussed, with 51 out of 84 officers having completed the 40-hour course. Legal considerations and case law impacting responses to mental health crises were also reviewed. Public comment included concerns about the disconnect between program intent and reality, personal experiences with the system, and requests for data on program success metrics and inter-agency coordination. Council members specifically asked for data on the effectiveness of warm handoffs, coordination with county services, and for all officers to receive CIT training. iHeart reported responding to a significant number of calls, alleviating the burden on police officers and allowing them to focus on more urgent matters. Data on iHeart's call volume and the percentage of calls not requiring officer intervention was provided, highlighting the program's success in enabling officers to attend to more pressing issues while specialists provide trauma-informed care.