Title
An Ordinance authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, as a Law Enforcement partner for the Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program, and the Mid-America Regional Council to work collaboratively to execute the requirements of a Federal Award Project entitled Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program 3.0-Model For Growth (CoRV3.0). (CEDC 1/10/24)
Body
Issue/Request:
An Ordinance authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, as a Law Enforcement partner for the Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program, and the Mid-America Regional Council to work collaboratively to execute the requirements of a Federal Award Project entitled Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program 3.0-Model For Growth (CoRV3.0).
Key Issues:
The City of Lee's Summit, through the Police Department, seeks to continue its relationship with the Mid America Regional Council and Re-Discover to fund and maintain the current LSPD Mental Health Co-Responder program.
The current LSPD Mental Health Co-Responder (MHCR) program was launched in 2020, and is based on a Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Police Mental Health Collaboration concept. Under this concept, the MHCR’s are embedded in the Police Department and accompany officers on calls for service involving people in crisis or facing substance abuse issues. In this capacity, they can provide more adequate resources much more quickly than a solo police officer. They also conduct follow-up with those individuals, to include home visits. The LSPD currently has two, full time Behavioral Health Co-Responders funded by Re-Discover and other grants.
Under this agreement, the City of Lee’s Summit, through the LSPD, agrees to do the following:
• Designate at least one primary point of contact to serve as the agency’s representative on the project steering committee (PO Mike Isberg, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator, already serves in that role).
• Commit to attend scheduled steering committee meetings and provide project updates as requested.
• Recommend and recruit members for the project interagency work group to ensure diverse representation from among the various agencies and disciplines that intersect with mental health and law enforcement.
• Provide appropriate office space and day-to-day support for co-responders assigned to the department.
• Participate as requested by the Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) in the recruitment process for co-responders assigned to the department.
Currently, the police department’s CIT Coordinator already fulfills all of those roles. MARC and CCBHC’s would fulfill additional roles; the City and the Police Department would not receive any funding, nor would they be responsible for distributing any funds. That is the responsibility of MARC.
The following Cities, through their police departments, are also executing this exact agreement: City of Blue Springs, City of Grandview, City of Independence, and the City of Raytown.
This MOU will be in effect until December, 31st, 2026, or three months following any authorized extension to the federal grant pursuant to Exhibit A in the attached agreement.
Proposed City Council Committee Motion: I move to recommend to the City Council approval of an Ordinance authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, as a Law Enforcement partner for the Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program, and the Mid-America Regional Council to work collaboratively to execute the requirements of a Federal Award Project entitled Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program 3.0-Model For Growth (CoRV3.0).
Proposed City Council Motion:
I move for adoption of an Ordinance authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Understanding by and between the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri, as a Law Enforcement partner for the Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program, and the Mid-America Regional Council to work collaboratively to execute the requirements of a Federal Award Project entitled Eastern Jackson County Co-Responder Program 3.0-Model For Growth (CoRV3.0).
Background:
The City, through the Police Department and a partnership with Re-Discover, has been operating a Behavioral HealthJose Co-Responder program since early 2020. This MOU would allow Re-Discover to obtain funding to continue the program through a grant obtained by the Mid America Regional Council.
Impact/Analysis:
See Key Issues
Presenter
Major Cary Colyne, LSPD
CIT Coordinator Officer Mike Isberg, LSPD
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval.
Committee Recommendation