Title
Resolution authorizing an increase in the police budget to accommodate an increase in the sworn staffing level for the West Allis Police Department in order to establish a Crisis Assessment Response Team program.
Body
WHEREAS, in early 2017, the West Allis Police Department was approached by the Milwaukee County’s Behavioral Health Division regarding our agency participating in the Crisis Assessment Response Team (C.A.R.T.) program; and
WHEREAS, the Crisis Assessment Response Team would consist of a single Crisis Mobile Team Clinician supplied by Milwaukee County’s Behavioral Health Division (BHD) and a single officer supplied by the West Allis Police Department; and
WHEREAS, these individuals will partner together to respond to both emergency and non-emergency calls to provide services and attempt to either stabilize individuals with their own natural support system and/or resources, or assist them in obtaining voluntarily treatment; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the C.A.R.T. is to decrease the number of emergency detentions by identifying and utilizing voluntary alternatives for our citizens, thereby creating a positive impact for those experiencing a mental health crisis; and
WHEREAS, the C.A.R.T would also be able to provide mental health assessments prior to transporting prisoners to the Criminal Justice Facility, respond as a resource squad to high priority crisis calls involving the mentally ill and/or suicidal individuals, conduct proactive home visits for repeated mental health patients, and conduct homeless outreach; and
WHEREAS, the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division has entered into an agreement with the West Allis Police Department, and in this agreement, BHD will fund an officer’s salary and benefits for the first two (2) years not to exceed $100,000.00 per year; and
WHEREAS, this will require the West Allis Police Department to increase the sworn staffing level and hire an additional police officer with an anticipated salary and benefit cost of approximately $89,249.16 for 2018; and
WHEREAS, a tenured officer would be appointed to a Specialist I to fill the role of the C.A.R.T. officer position resulting in an additional cost of $3,298.91 for 2018; and
WHEREAS, the police budget would need to increase by $92,548.07 for 2018 to account for the above costs; however, this would be fully funded by Milwaukee County BHD; and
WHEREAS, when funding is no longer available through BHD, the West Allis Police Department will evaluate the continuance of the program based on the program’s long term effectiveness and the budget at that time; and
WHEREAS, the Police and Fire Commission reviewed a proposal regarding C.A.R.T. at its meeting on October 19, 2017 and approved moving forward with it.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of West Allis that the Police Department is authorized to increase its budget by an amount not to exceed $100,000.00, which will be reimbursed by the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, in order to add a sworn member to its staff for the purposes of establishing a C.A.R.T. program.
ADM\ORDRES\2017\ADMR17.64