Vancouver City Council |
REPORT TO COUNCIL
SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ISSUES
MARCH 12, 2003
RTS: 3321
CC File: 3053-1/3701RECOMMENDATION
1. Police Services: Crises Intervention Program
The Police are often the first line of contact for a person with a mental disorder who is displaying signs of psychosis and requires psychiatric attention.
In the past six years Vancouver Police have been involved in shooting incidents where the person creating the incident suffers from a mental disorder. There were three coroner inquests to incidents in Vancouver that resulted in death1. Recommendations from these inquests strongly requested "funding for ongoing training of police in dealing with mental health clients".
To ensure the safety of the person, the Police in attendance, and the public, it is essential that appropriate training in Crisis Intervention and Mental Illness be available to each Police Officer as soon after training in the Police Academy as is possible. This program is already showing indications of successful application in the field.
At its meeting on March 6, 2003, the Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues received an update from Sergeant Steve Brady and Constable Heidi Schoenberger, Police Services, with regard to Crises Intervention training.
Having expressed its strong support for the program, the Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues
RECOMMENDS
THAT Council support the continuance and funding of Police Services' Crises Intervention Program; and
FURTHER THAT Council direct Police Services staff to ensure all Police Academy graduates receive Crises Intervention training in the first year of service.
(Signed) "Paul Tubbe", Chair
Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
While the City Manager supports the need for the Crises Intervention Program, she advises that the responsibility for decisions on the type of recommendations suggested in the report rests with the Police Board as it is part of Police Officer training. The Chief Constable has advised that he also supports the recommendations.
Therefore, the City Manager RECOMMENDS, as an alternate to those presented by the Committee on Disability Issues, the following Recommendation:
THAT Council refer the report dated March 12, 2003, from the Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, to the Police Board for action.
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