City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Commission, 20 Sep 2022

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 9.20.2022 Police Commission

Description

9.20.2022 Police Commission

A

Okay, good evening, everybody we invite you to come on in join our meeting.

A

Like to call the september meeting of the portsmouth police commission to order.

A

And we're going to begin with the pledge of allegiance and to.

A

Do that I'm going to ask deputy chief maloney soon to be official to lead us.

A

Pledge allegiance of america into the republic for which it stands.

A

One nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

A

Thank you, what's wonderful to see so many faces here tonight. We appreciate your willingness.

A

To join us and commemorate and celebrate vesting and swearing in ceremonies for so.

A

Many dedicated public servants we get to honor this evening so before we spend any more time.

A

On anything other than that, I'd like to request a motion to suspend the agenda to move to item.

A

Number one besting of ranking and swearing in ceremony and item number two recognition.

A

Ceremony under the chief's report so moved. Second, all in favor, aye chief. Take it away.

B

Welcome everybody and thank you for coming today we're going to start with the recognition of.

B

Deputy chief maloney lieutenant nick small and our through newest police officers.

B

First, we'll do the western rank of deputy chief maloney. If you want to come up mike.

B

On july 11th, the board of police commissioners voted unanimously to appoint mike maloney to.

B

The rank of deputy chief and soon thereafter, on july 28th, the board unanimously voted to promote.

B

Nick small to lieutenant it's my pleasure to invest them with the supervising authority of.

B

Their new rank, a little bio on mike he's been here for 24 years, haven't held supervisor roles.

B

In each division with an apartment, he was hired in 1998 as a patrol officer and after.

B

10 years was promoted to sergeant in 2009, he was promoted to lieutenant assigned to.

B

The investigative division very supervised day-to-day operations, along with major case.

B

Investigations, including crimes against persons, narcotics and homeland security,.

B

In 2013 mike was assigned a personnel training division where he oversaw all the department.

B

Recruiting hiring training and responsible for policy creation and implementation.

B

Fong's assignment and personal and training he served as a patrol lieutenant and professional.

B

Standards lieutenant where he oversaw the department's effort to achieve its first.

B

Ever national accreditation with collia, which is commission on accreditation for.

B

Law enforcement agencies in 2019, you promoted a captain for the patrol division where we're.

B

Seeing all operations, in addition to major event, planning, grant initiatives and strategic planning.

B

Mike has served as a member of the seacoast emergency response team.

B

For 21 years, the last 12 years as a team commander and mike has recently just.

B

I would say: retired resigned from the commander's position as a circ commander to take on his new.

B

Role here, as a deputy chief he's excited to pursue this career opportunity and looks.

B

Forward to working with all members of the police department, as he serves the needs of our community.

B

So mike, if you come put your right hand up and repeat after me,.

B

By virtue of the authority vested in me, by virtue of authority, invested in me through the.

B

Commission by rsa 105-c, a by the commission, rsa 105-ca and the portsmouth city charter.

B

Amended amendment e and the portsmouth city charter, amendment e trusted in your experience.

B

Integrity, trusting in your experience, integrity, infidelity infidelity. I do hereby promote you.

C

I do hereby promote you. The position of deputy chief of the portsmouth police department.

B

Congratulations.

B

With all the power and authority and subject to.

B

All the duties and liabilities of the position. Congratulations.

B

Thank you, foreign.

B

Because no I've broken it.

B

You got a picture with him.

C

C

Yeah everyone, except for my son, who was given.

C

The option of soccer practice- or this he said tell me all about it.

B

B

Just raise your right hand I'll speak.

B

By virtue of the authority vested in me, through the commission by rsa 105-ca in the portsmouth.

B

City charter, amendment e trusting in your experience, integrity and fidelity. I do hereby.

B

Promote you to the position of a lieutenant with the portsmouth police department, with all the.

B

Power and authority and subject to all the duties and liabilities of this position. Congratulations.

B

That is easier.

C

A quick bio on lieutenant's small smalls in his 21st year as a police officer, he began.

B

His law enforcement career here with uh in new hampshire with the cookson police department.

B

In 2001 and became a portsmouth police officer in 2010 during his career nick.

B

Has worked as a patrol officer, detective and patrol sergeant. In addition, he served.

B

Seven years with the sea coast, emergency response team and is currently a team leader.

B

Nick is also a current member of the department's critical incident stress.

B

Management team and previously served as a crime scene, crime, scene, team, member nick's, a veteran of.

B

The united states marine corps, having served in the infantry for four years and is also a.

B

Veteran of the united states navy reserves where he served as an intelligent analyst for five years.

B

Nick has six awesome kids, whom we enjoy spending time with and when he's not at.

B

Work, he looks forward the next chapter of his career as a patrol lieutenant foreign.

B

Dan and kevin come up.

B

This will be interesting.

B

Kareem is on the end. You have kevin carno in the middle and dan katani of.

B

The sun I'll do a quick bio for each of them. Kareem is a lateral transfer from.

B

Glen cove new york, where he served as a police officer with a new york city.

B

Police department, 102nd precinct here in a master's degree in business administration,.

B

And a bachelor's degree in criminal justice for the new york institute of technology.

B

Daniel is a lateral transfer from oh I'm going to butcher this one massapequa park, new york.

B

Well, I get credit for that, one where he served as a police officer, the new york city, police.

B

Department he attended farmingdale state college before enrolling the new york city, police academy,.

B

Cardinal is a lateral transfer, also from massapequa new york, where he served as a.

B

University police officer with a new york state university police department at sunny, suny, stony.

B

Brook he earned the bachelors of science and criminal justice law enforcement technology.

B

From farmingdale state college, the three of these guys have started approximately about three weeks.

B

Ago, we're happy to have them join us and are in our internal field training program now. So if I.

B

Can get the three of you to raise your right hand and you're gonna? You are gonna repeat after me.

B

I state your names.

B

The above name appointee do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially.

B

Discharge and perform all duties.

B

Incumbent on me, as a police officer constable in night, watchman.

B

Of said, city of portsmouth.

B

According to the best of my ability agreeable to the rules and regulations of the constitution,.

B

And laws of the state of new hampshire so help me, god.

B

Now I'll read this by virtue of authority vested in me through the police, commission and rsa 105-c.

B

Trusted in your integrity, infidelity dubai do here by constitute and appoint you a police.

B

Officer constable at night, watchman of said city of portsmouth, with all the power and.

B

Authority and subject to all the duties and liabilities provided by law. Congratulations.

B

B

B

Good well yeah, all right.

B

B

Next will just be a recognition ceremony. Canine acts are.

B

Canine that work with aaron stacy has recently just been retired and he's now going to tradition.

B

To his new role as a pet, although I don't know how friendly he'll be as a pet, if you go over and.

B

Visit k9x served with a ports with the community, along with handler master patrolman aaron stacy.

B

For seven years before deciding to retire at the beginning of this month, acts will be recognized.

B

More formally in october, we have a gift, small gift that we are waiting to come in and our.

B

Next recognition will be detective- rochelle jones who's, not here tonight, but she just recently on.

B

The 16th finished her 20th year with the police police department and we'd like to recognize her.

B

20 years of service to the community, she's had a long career she's a portsmouth born and raised in.

B

Portsmouth and she's been an excellent addition to our department into our community for her services.

B

That is it. You guys can now leave the meeting. If you do not want to sit here.

B

And listen to the fun talk we have with the commission. Thank you for your attendance.

C

B

A bit something in this.

C

B

Well, give me a password public comments, section.

D

Okay, I'm looking at the wrong thing: yeah go ahead! Oh.

C

A

Chief, why don't we move and then you can get the seal behind us.

C

C

E

C

Okay, can you guys.

C

A

A

Well, the chief told everybody: our meetings aren't fun so now they've got to left us, but.

A

I mean really: we have a lot of fun here, so we're gonna move back to the agenda.

A

And I will ask for a motion of acceptance of the minutes of the 2022 meeting held on july 28th. So.

D

Moved second, all in favor, aye aye and at this point in the meeting we invite public comment.

A

F

Everyone long time no see marta hurricane. I live on newcastle avenue in portsmouth.

F

um Just uh curious to stick around for the meeting, I didn't see an agenda posted but.

F

Maybe I missed it in my defense, but I did review the the minutes from last meeting and saw that.

F

You might be discussing the mental health crisis unit, so I'll be curious to hear an update on that.

F

um I did want to say that myself, lisa, wolford and stephanie houseman reviewed the non-disclosure.

F

Agreement addendum or or changes and and we support them- I think it's a great addition. It will.

F

I think clear things up for a lot of people. We appreciate that if a decision you know is made to.

F

um You know to keep certain information confidential, that that will be explained.

F

And posted, even if the agreement may not be as well and that there's clear.

F

Explanation of what sort of categories you'll consider when reviewing that. So.

F

um And that I think the decision, if, if things aren't disclosed, will be posted.

F

On the website, which I think will allow better access to information, I've been to the police.

F

Commission website dozens hundreds of times at this point, I think it is improving, perhaps access.

F

This information can just be an ongoing thought process there, maybe with the whole website at.

F

Some point I still struggle to to to get easy access to certain information, but anyway we we.

F

Really support and appreciate the progress that you're making and I look forward to hearing the.

F

Updates. Thank you. Thank you see chief marta thinks these meetings are fun. Just gonna stay around yeah.

A

Anyone else probably comment. Okay, I will get to the mobile crisis response because.

A

I know we have a guest here who wants to speak to that? So why don't.

A

um We jump right into that work. We have been lucky to have a representative from seacoast.

A

Mental health here today to share progress about the ongoing partnership to provide.

A

Mobile crisis response and to work in close collaboration with seacoast mental health.

A

Captain keating could not be here tonight, but we will be hearing more.

A

From him in future meetings, and so with that, I will turn it over to you.

E

Thank you and thank you for the uh invite. My name is dennis walker. uh My title at seacoast is vice.

E

President of clinical operations for emergency services and intake, uh I'm basically the guy.

E

Who oversees the operation for three different programs at seacoast, one of which is a mobile.

E

Crisis, so I'm happy to be here tonight and to talk about mobile. Give you a little bit of an update.

E

Would it be helpful if I kind of went back to the very beginning in terms of kind of how we got here.

E

um And then I'll probably talk a little bit about uh where we've been and then update everybody on.

E

Statistics and um statewide and some statistic, some stats that we have uh for portsmouth, would.

E

That be okay. That would be great. Thank you all right, great. So, up until uh january 1st, we had a.

E

Very hospital-centric emergency system for folks going through mental health crisis in the state, so.

E

What that means is, if you were in a mental health crisis, you really only had one option you had to.

E

Go to the emergency department and folks did that at uh in record numbers over the past couple years.

E

There's a huge problem with that model: it would be like having a fire department that.

E

Could only put out fires around the perimeter of its building right, not very good. If you have.

E

A a family in crisis or an individual in crisis, a couple miles down uh or have if.

E

You had a fire a couple miles down from the fire department. You can't put out the fire.

E

That far away so same with kind of a hospital uh and crisis work in that you had to go to the.

E

Hospital well so, what's the problem with that there's a lot of helpful people at the hospital.

E

Not so much in this way, most hospitals, uh unlike portsmouth hospital, which has its own.

E

uh Behavioral health unit and their own pars folks, the those are the folks who do the uh emergency.

E

Mental health evaluations over in the emergency department- most hospitals- don't have that.

E

So, basically, what you would have are people going to the emergency department.

E

Waiting for hours uh having to go through a number of tests that they really don't need.

E

um All in a very dissatisfying way: okay, so, when mobile crisis hit on january 1st, we're finally.

E

Able to bring the clinicians to the folks having a crisis, and I, as somebody who's worked on the front.

E

Lines: I've been a social worker for for 30 years, uh worked many years over at the exeter hospital.

E

And I think, year after year heard families and individuals saying we wish we had a a different.

E

Place to go, I wish we had folks who could come to us and finally, we do have that in the state.

E

um The crisis transformation has primarily kind of been enacted by the community mental health.

E

Centers and beacon health options I'll tell you a little bit about that. So in the state.

E

Now there is something called an access point, so the access point is a a crisis hub in the state.

E

Staffed by beacon health options staffed by their folks who are master's, trained.

E

Clinicians and we, what we've done in the state, is virtually taken all of our local numbers and face.

E

Them forward to this access point, so normally a workflow for the eastern half of rockingham.

E

County would would have been prior to january. 1St somebody who's in crisis would either go to.

E

The hospital, the nearest hospital- or they would call seacoast mental health, and we we would have.

E

A 24 7 emergency services team that was inside the agency we're also embedded over at exeter hospital.

E

um So folks, who call us and what we did on january 1st, what we did and what the other nine mental.

E

Health centers did in the state. Is we aimed all our phones to this access point, so I think.

E

They were pretty surprised by the amount of crisis calls that they started to receive, starting on.

E

January 1st, I think when they took over the access point or they created the access point.

E

They were not, they were thinking kind of we don't have the biggest population, certainly.

E

In the united states- and they were expecting uh well- let's just say, a lower call volume.

E

I can tell you that, just in august alone, they received four thousand calls to the access point.

E

What's really unique about that number? Is it's certainly higher? It's.

E

So much more higher than what they expected that they had to hire 10 new people in their.

E

In their access point, which is which is good, we certainly needed in the state. But what was super.

E

Surprising about that number is that if anybody who works in the in the crisis field in mental.

E

Health knows that august and july are really uh lower numbers. We see, we see lower people.

E

Visiting the emergency department, we see a lot lower numbers of people calling the agency so.

E

uh And that 4 000 represented the highest number for the whole year. So far, so we were.

E

All uh blown away by that number, if there's 4 000, calls coming in um uh in august, what's going.

E

To happen in september and october, when kids go back to school and things start to get super busy.

E

um One of the unique things about the access point and they have a proven.

E

Track record in other states, they just finished an implementation in georgia,.

E

The access point is able to actually and contractually obligate it to take care of.

E

About 80 87 percent of the incoming calls, meaning, if somebody calls them in a crisis.

E

87 of the time they're contractually obligated to solve the crisis, and uh lo and behold, they've.

E

Been pretty close to that number they've been they resolve about 84 to 85 percent of the total calls.

E

That come in the other call the other uh crises that they can't resolve. That's when they're.

E

Calling uh mobile crisis so they have a primary uh mission at the access point to solve the crisis.

E

And if they can't solve the crisis, they deploy the mobile teams. Mobile teams are situated inside.

E

The mental health centers throughout the state uh and they're connected uh the access points.

E

Connected to us, through software called open beds, basically a kind of gps tracking map that shows up.

E

On their screen shows who's available and then the access point's able to kind of deploy the teams.

E

uh I I will say that certainly the the system so far has had its ups and downs. I happen to chair.

E

The um law enforcement subcommittee in the state, which is a committee uh comprised of uh leaders in.

E

Law enforcement, community and leaders in mobile crisis, and we I will definitely say that we had.

E

Our rocky days in the beginning, the first two or three months, uh because we were pushing the access.

E

Point to have speed when, uh when law enforcement would call, we certainly were not getting that.

E

uh For the first month or two, the law enforcement folks would call and they would have to go through.

E

This long drawn out kind of assessment where um that just wasn't working law enforcement needs.

E

Mobile support out there as quick as possible and they weren't getting that and we've been.

E

Able to kind of tweak their process through uh close working relationship that the access point.

E

Or beacon that names kind of uh interchangeable, uh so the relationship between us, the state and.

E

Beacon is pretty pretty tight. We work with them virtually on a daily basis to refine.

E

uh The process we're trying to create the best system that we can in new hampshire, but, like I.

E

Said it was, it was rocky in the beginning, uh as as we kind of move through the year, we've.

E

Had less complaints from law enforcement, which is which is great but as the leader.

E

Of that committee, we're staying on top of the beacon folks and definitely on top of the state.

E

To make sure that that doesn't uh fade away the when the police call we I like.

E

To say when the police call we're going, there's no questions. No questions asked.

E

um Just so, you do know when we do deploy to somebody's home.

E

We're always deploying with two people: uh a master's clinician and a peer support, specialist.

E

um We can deploy uh with a single clinician, a master's clinician if.

E

It's a what we call a safe, safe spot like a another hospital, a primary care office, a.

E

School or even a jail we can go by ourselves, but other than that. We'll have two people.

E

uh So some statistics, so total um access point, calls since january, 1st 16.

E

000 uh 29 contacts- that's an amazing volume. Can you clarify? Is that statewide or for the.

A

Seacoast region, yeah for the whole state and 4041 of those contacts, have been.

E

um Led to mobile deployments, so that is huge. That's a lot of people who did not have to.

E

Either suffer in silence or had to go to the emergency department. um That's pretty good! So.

E

uh Some other stats, so 90 of just a little over 90 percent of the total mobile deployments did.

E

Not involve the police, and I can tell you in the beginning, we had a uh about a year run up.

E

To january 1st, in terms of planning and stuff- and we really thought.

E

um Given our experience in kind of the more uh emergency department-centric.

E

uh Mental health response system that we were going to be dealing a lot more with the police, but.

E

um That certainly has not shaken out on the seacoast, and it hasn't shaken out around the.

E

State either I pulled a couple of my uh director colleagues throughout the state one one in west.

E

Central had zero police contacts since january 1st and I believe the lakes region might have had. um I.

E

Think 12 total contacts out of 144 deployments, so it's it's really low to me. Surprisingly. Low.

E

Number uh of uh times in which the police are called in these situations and that actually.

E

Pans out uh in around the country, when you look at georgia and washington state both who have had.

E

Recent system changes like ours in the past five years.

E

um Looking at some of the portsmouth numbers now, the there's, I think some.

E

I have some data here on portsmouth, but I I think there are.

E

Certainly, some variables involved in this data that that um I I couldn't get my hands on and.

E

I'll explain that in a second, so starting in january the month of january, we had eight.

E

Total mobile deployments in uh port, actually that's mobile deployments and uh aftercare so.

E

Aftercare would be considered a mobile crisis clinician who does an initial evaluation, but.

E

Then hangs on for a session or two afterwards to get that person services that they need.

E

um So in um january the number was eight and slowly started to rise february, 13 march 2024 and.

E

As we kind of got through the year, we had some uh ups and downs, but uh three months ago, so 46 41, 34.

E

And we're trending into the 30s uh in september, with a little bit more than halfway through.

E

So that means a total, so the total number that we had in portsmouth was 234. crisis contacts.

E

Over over nine months, so that's about 26 a month now the problems with that data is that is just.

E

Seacoast mental health data, um the the one of the interesting parts about this system is.

E

Prior to january 1st, the community mental health centers were stuck in the catchment.

E

Area so with seacoast mental health, we serve the eastern half of rockingham county.

E

In this new system, we can have um other community mental health centers, who are within an hour of.

E

Say portsmouth come to portsmouth, so community partners, just in the dover area, can come over.

E

Center for life management out of salem, even manchester mental health are all within an hour.

E

Of portsmouth, so the data that they have involving portsmouth, I wasn't able to get.

E

um Also, the the number of crisis counts that I gave to you this evening, likely.

E

Are again a full representation because not everybody uses the system, yet it certainly.

E

Hasn't not been that well advertised. I can kind of tell you my thoughts around that.

E

um And not everybody, so not everybody knows about it, and then there are some situations in which.

E

People are in crisis that either their loved ones, or maybe even sometimes police, take them.

E

Directly to the emergency department, um and so we would never. We would never uh see those folks.

E

uh So you have to kind of take these numbers with a grain of salt. They likely are much.

E

Or at least uh you know larger to what degree we don't know.

E

Yeah so the the seacoast numbers, uh so this would just be uh in our catchment area. We've.

E

Had a total of 228 deployments, uh the agency who's coming into our area, the.

E

Most is community partners again they're right over in dover, uh rochester, so out of the two.

E

Out of the 228 times that we've deployed since september, right out of our portsmouth office,.

E

I'm sorry so 23 of all our mobile deployments were handled by an out of catchment uh mental.

E

Health center and basically they came out to uh the largest uh mental health.

E

Center helping us out as community partners, which is what again right over the border so.

E

um Yeah, so those are some of the stats. Hopefully that was kind of clear there's so much. I could.

E

Certainly talk about from the imp, I'm on the statewide steering committee uh for mobile.

E

As well, but I was hoping to have a little bit of a portsmouth flair for you guys tonight so.

E

I'd be glad to take any any questions. Thank you dennis. First of all, I just have to say we in this.

A

Community are so grateful and fortunate to have seacoast mental health as a resource, especially.

A

Never has it been more clear and important than it is today relative to the mental health crisis.

A

So many in our communities are facing so very grateful that you took the time out tonight to.

A

Be here and to give us an update on how this is progressing uh if you're, okay, I just have.

A

A couple questions, and then I'll turn it over to my fellow commissioners for their questions.

A

um So you talked about speed of response when the police are initiating a call for service.

A

For for help, in the event that we we know, the department knows that there's a person who's.

A

In a mental health crisis, can you talk about the the initiation of the sort of the point of contact.

A

So much of the data you shared suggests that it's coming from a person in crisis or a family member.

A

For someone in crisis and that triggers a certain process for how you deploy the response team can.

A

You talk about how it works. You know, because presumably you're helping avoid a call to the to.

A

The police department right, but I'd, love to hear more about how the interactions are between law.

A

Enforcement initiating calls versus how the access point process triggers a response to the police so.

A

At what point would the mobile crisis response go with a police? You know a responding officer.

A

Or not, and how does how is that all working yeah, you know it's what's really interesting. Is uh the.

E

Deployment algorithm that beacon health options created um has a category for a joint deployment.

E

um And uh because that's what they've seen around around the around the country, so joint deployment.

E

Would basically be put um police going in first, because there might be somewhat of an unsafe.

E

Situation, maybe somebody has a gun and mobile kind of around the corner kind of waiting for the the.

E

Green light so to speak, um and that's actually um part of like four or five um deployment.

E

Categories that uh beacon health options has. I could not find one instance where that occurred.

E

um So I don't, I don't actually know what that means, except that probably we overestimated.

E

Maybe how often the um as far as when you look at all the numbers, the total deployment, how many.

E

How often the police would be involved in that um as far as kind of how? How it just generally would.

E

Work versus, if I think your question might be like, what's the difference between if a family member.

E

Or an individual calls, the access point versus the police was that kind of the flavor of it yeah.

E

um So when an individual calls you're really getting that full evaluation right.

E

You're getting a a true crisis evaluation that features you know an evidence-based.

E

uh Assessment you're getting really everything that you probably get. If you went to a hospital.

E

um Whereas if the police call- and this is the way it is supposed to work and I've only.

E

Heard of really over the past, probably three or four months- maybe one instance where the police.

E

Weren't immediately patched through to mobile, so but police would call I'd, say the minimum amount.

E

Of information that um the access point would want to know is just a brief synopsis of the situation.

E

um You know who was in the who else is in the house, maybe a quick overview. If there's.

E

Any kind of weapons or anything like that, and then it should be.

E

um We're sending mobile out now what happens after they send mobile out the case really becomes ours.

E

So we have a software platform that comes right to our phone. Two people are jumping in the car and.

E

Off they go one person's kind of looking at their phone and looking at the details. um Well, we have.

E

The clinicians do is, they will call so they'll call and the first person they'll want to speak.

E

To is that officer on scene, followed by and so that we can get a first-hand accounting of what's.

E

Happening and then we want to speak to the person, we're going to be assessing, tell them a little bit.

E

About the process who we are what our car looks like and then there's there's a um a handoff at.

E

Some point between the police and the clinician if the police feel comfortable, but there's no.

E

Further safety situations on seeing the persons in behavioral control, there's no guns, there's.

E

No reason for the police to be there: we, the police, can depart even as where we're arriving. um I think.

E

um That requires a certain level of trust, because getting around talking to multiple.

E

Police departments now the police, you know they want to know, obviously who you are and.

E

um You know everything I think that the police does is involves trust and you have to kind of.

E

You got to win that trust. How do you win that trust? You you get there on time. You do a great.

E

Job and um but anyways um and so yeah, that's the process as we're on our way and as we're arriving.

E

um The very first deployment we did was in portsmouth. I actually went out with one of my.

E

Younger clinicians um and police were already on scene, we pulled up, we talked to the police officer.

E

And they were able to leave at that point, but again sometimes, depending on how well they know us.

E

They'll leave as we're on our way there something like to wait till we get there so that there's a.

E

There's a uniform kind of handoff, okay, so just two other follow-up questions on that that specific.

A

Topic one I mean it, you, you noted that the goal in part is to prevent people from having to go into.

A

The emergency room, and also, I think, the goal for any law enforcement agencies to prevent the law.

A

Enforcement officers from having to respond to a situation where they're, not the optimal responder.

A

So, and- and you alluded to this- and I I know buzz- has has this question as well, just in terms of.

A

How we communicate to people who may need to call that the number even exists, how do they, how.

A

Do people reach, because I mean with that volume- it's working right if we can keep that many people.

A

Out of an emergency room who are getting the help they need and preventing officers from having to.

A

Respond to a situation that may not be a public safety concern, but it's clearly an individual.

A

Health crisis, it's working! How do we make it work even better by making sure people know about it,.

A

By promoting the phone number by making sure loved ones, who may have people in who've been in.

A

Crisis before know about it, great, that's a great question, so how do we make it better? Well, part of.

E

It is and- and I think the access point as as I was saying earlier- they had to hire more people.

E

um And, as you probably all know, hiring in any sector of the economy, it's really difficult.

E

um One of the things I am super proud of is, and I would say, as an agency, we have workforce issues.

E

At seacoast the uh entire system- uh community mental health system- let's see two months ago,.

E

In the state of new hampshire, there are over 300 uh community mental health openings in state.

E

80 percent of those were clinical. So when we started uh on january 1st, we had a skeleton crew.

E

That's why uh I was going out there and kind of kind of which is, which is great. I mean, but.

E

um But one thing I'm really proud of is: we've: we've started to build, and now we have one of.

E

The biggest teams right in the seacoast uh we're able to hire a clinical manager, and I think we.

E

Only have three or four now uh open positions. There are some um community mental health agencies.

E

That still at twenty percent, thirty percent, some started with big teams manchester, for example,.

E

Had the biggest team in the state and when they changed the system, they created this kind of out.

E

Of catchment uh travel time, they lost a big chunk of their team, but workforce is is a big issue, so.

E

uh To answer the the question, though, how do we I know the state has been a little bit reserved in.

E

Fully broadcasting this because of the workforce issues that they've had at the access point and.

E

That we've had as the mobile crisis teams, um so they've been a little bit shy about.

E

Kind of promoting this, however, we have 988. Now that's a part of the system uh in new hampshire.

E

um And we have done a considerable amount of tv appearances, radio.

E

um Of course, getting around meeting all the as many police as we can so there's a lot more work.

E

To be done, as far as getting the word out, we're we're nowhere where we're going to be. I always.

E

Have to constantly remind myself to kind of calm down a little bit, because we're only nine months.

E

In and there's some indication, if you look at the georgia models and the washington state models,.

E

That it can take three years four years to fully have an operational. I want it like today and now.

E

um But um yeah we're working uh incredibly hard and I the other thing I'm proud of, is.

E

The partnership between uh vega and the state and community mental health centers I mean that has.

E

Been a, uh uh it was a little bit rocky in the in the beginning, but I think we have all come.

E

Together uh and there's just strong support for the model because we know it works, we.

E

Know it works. We know it keeps the police out of situations that they don't need to be in and and.

E

The statistics in terms of what we call emergency department diversions it's over 90 percent, so over.

E

90 of the time when we are in somebody's home, we're going to prevent them from going to the.

E

Emergency department, great yeah, commissioner sure do you have any other questions. I do.

D

um A pleasure to actually see you in person dennis we talked likes on the phone a while.

D

Ago first question is that quasi self-interest I think, as you you may remember my daughter.

D

Is a clinical psychologist, she's now uh teaches full-time at umass dartmouth and.

D

She trains master's students that not msw but masters in psychology when you refer to master.

D

Masters clinicians: are you talking about people with master's degrees in in psychology or msws.

D

Right or uh you can have a master's degree in counseling a master's degree in social work. Okay,.

D

Kind of one of those well I'll get my daughter to send all her graduates up here. I love it.

D

um Second, you talked about you know 84. The goal is to have 87 of uh of the call crisis solutions.

D

um Could you give me an example of the kind of crisis solutions that that result from the the.

D

Calls sure yeah great question well I'll. Tell you one of the primary things when you think about.

E

uh How important the community mental health centers are because, as well as beacon does in.

E

Terms of resolving the crisis, meaning they're not sending out the mobile teams they're, not.

E

Calling in the police- and they do a really good job, really the backbone of what they're.

E

Doing is they're getting that person to us the following day, so we've created a system by which.

E

The access point beacon folks just have to email us and they email us. The person's kind of name.

E

Date of birth, whether they talk to the person about and we're literally seeing that person.

E

uh In in person the following day at the agency, if they want that some just say no we'll do.

E

Telehealth some just want a a phone check in, but the the heavy work is done by the community mental.

E

Health, because so we'll not only see that person the following day, but then we'll get them an.

E

Intake we'll start services at the center if they want that, we'll create a psychiatric appointment.

E

We'll they'll get to see a medical doctor for medications and we have such a wide variety of.

E

Services at seacoast sud children's services would it be? Would it be fair to think about.

D

The access point as something close to a traffic director yeah yeah. I like that, a lot um they.

E

Certainly do a good job doing the initial uh assessment. uh They do a good job at getting us.

E

The the referrals through their software, but the heavy lifting when you knew I I've done the work.

E

Throughout my career, in the community and in the hospital- and it's a lot easier to do with folks.

E

In the hospital right, when you have security and doctors and nurses and labs and stuff like that,.

E

um The hardest part of the job is really going out and getting into somebody's home, where you might.

E

Not know you know what you're getting into you might not know the the whole story. That's where.

E

The the hardest part of this of this job is, and I believe that we, you know, I I'm I'm super proud.

E

Of the community mental health system- and uh I I always feel like we're the underdogs, because.

E

uh Certainly, other people pay, uh the hospitals pay more than we can pay, but we have this kind.

E

Of underdog spirit- and we know kind of what our mission is and we're certainly dedicated to that.

E

Mission, so it sounds like uh this system as it's developing means you're, not as alone as you used.

D

To be um it's the way I'm seeing it, um you know you have the access point um and you have some.

D

Other options uh last question and for me the the hardest one to understand: what is the relationship.

D

Between the the new 988 number and the access point do all calls, for example, but only an example.

D

Do all 988 calls go to the access point? um Could you kind of play that through because I've been.

D

Hearing all sorts of you know, I sometimes hear the 988 number advertised as a suicide hotline.

D

um I uh there is a a form: that's come out that I think I see it in a number of agencies where it's.

D

Got one number up here and a sequence of checks and then the 988 number, and with one check uh and.

D

um I find that if I were a layperson, I find that really confusing and just let me add this one.

D

Piece just so you understand where I'm coming from. uh I made the mistake of of talking with a.

D

Colleague of mine at the law, school lucy, hotter um and uh and saying I'm, I think, communities.

D

People in the community are very likely very confused if they see that who, what number they.

D

Should be calling, she immediately put me on the communications subcommittee um if there's such.

D

A thing for the statewide organization, so that's part of where I'm coming from trying to figure out.

D

A cleaner way to convey things because I think, there's a good bit of confusion out there. It's.

E

It's certainly confusing and- and I know the check box that you're talking about because.

E

Before it was uh introduced, uh it was brought to my law enforcement subcommittee and people were.

E

Asking our opinions and that just hearing you say something like that kind of makes me think.

E

That maybe we were all looking at it through through clinical eyes, instead of kind of maybe.

E

How somebody not in the mental health field would look through marketing eyes. I guess would be this.

D

Yeah yeah, um so the basics of it yeah 988 uh national suicide um uh helpline. So the way it.

E

Works though, the one trick in new hampshire is that if you call, if you're in, if you're in new.

E

Hampshire and you have a 603 area code and you dial, 988 you're, going to get the access point.

E

Who's going to take you right to the access point, if you're a new hampshire resident and.

E

You have like, for example, I live. I've lived in new hampshire for the last 15 years, but I still.

E

For whatever reason have my old massachusetts phone number 978., so if I were to call.

E

um 988 with my 978., uh I'm gonna get somebody from the national.

E

Hotline they might be in new hampshire likely would be in new hampshire unless.

E

um That new hampshire port that it goes to was full. Then you might be dealing with somebody.

E

In new york, or something like that, so um what we really want, what the dream would be that obviously.

E

Folks know the 988 number and can, if they remember that, that's fine, but in new hampshire we really.

E

Want people to dial that the other number access point number yeah, it's uh 833-710-6477.

D

Yeah and um and I'll raise this and I haven't gone to a meeting. Yet we have one scheduled in a week.

D

Or two um and I'll raise this because there's a a tremendous amount of confusion as to what 988.

D

Is for what that other number is for and to have both of them on there on that? That form.

D

When somebody has a family member in crisis, it's I agree. I think it's not the best. That is that's.

E

That's the operative word the crisis, because once you're in a crisis, you need it more simple.

E

You you can't be looking at, which number do do we call it yeah, but the bottom line is that if.

E

You're in new hampshire and you have a 603 area code and you dial, 988 you'll, get the access point.

E

The if, if I dial the 988, I likely would get a company in a non-profit in new hampshire.

E

Called headrest, I don't know if you guys have heard of headers they're the folks who uh prior.

E

To the access point, implementation took all the national 980 calls inside new hampshire.

E

um So I would likely, if I dialed 988 on my phone.

E

I'd like to likely get headrests unless it was so overwhelmed, then I'd go out of state.

A

Unless I call the 833 on my phone that I'd get right to the accident point.

A

A

The way to root to route that back to access point well, there's actually some work underway now.

E

um With uh teaching the 911 operators.

E

I'm certainly not an expert in this, but teaching them some of the ways to get people to the access.

E

Point- um and I know um I know some folks who were kind of on the committee to do that is.

E

They've, actually, I think they've been meeting for at least seven or eight months, because.

E

It's a big implementation. My understanding, at least in talking with people in portsmouth, is.

D

uh If 9-1-1 gets the call to the police department, the police department may.

D

Send it to the access point number send it to the access point. I mean that's. Certainly in.

D

Some of the thinking in the portsmouth police department, so that's another way that without.

D

With calling 9-1-1 it may get to the access point. So, commissioner questions yes very briefly, I just.

C

Was in trying to understand, I guess I'm sort of interested in that 10 percent right. The 10.

C

Percent of the calls that involve that actually do involve police and is that a product of um people.

C

Calling 9-1-1 police and then being rooted to the mobile crisis teams or, and is there a way to.

C

Triage that or so it sort of bypasses the police in terms of whether it's marketing or whatnot or.

C

Are these that 10? Is that, like those situations where we definitely need the co-occurrence of.

C

uh Mobile response team and the police yeah, it might be some of the 911 stuff that you're.

E

Talking about yeah yeah, a typical like situation like that would be um like if a parent called and.

E

They had a teenager who was out of control, maybe sits in vague, suicidal comments, but they needed.

E

The situation calmed up and, as you would expect kind of coming in as a crisis, clinician there's.

E

Not much you can do if somebody is tossing a chair or swearing, or you know what I mean and.

E

Oftentimes I mean the police come in, and people quiet right down right and this they are. They.

E

All of a sudden we'll talk to you when the police come because they know it's a serious situation so.

E

um Yeah, I don't know if that answers the full question of yeah yeah. It's just like is: do you.

C

Think there's room to reduce that 10 or do you think that's inherent in the type of uh responses.

C

That occur, I think people people have a kind of reflexive action of calling 9-1-1, sometimes.

E

So I yeah, I do think, there's room for improvement there, but we we have to certainly get the word out.

E

And it kind of goes back through, probably not the most helpful thing to have a confusing checkbox.

E

Diagram, but I think we can do more and you know the reform that's going on with 9112. I think.

E

There's a lot of room where maybe the police don't have to go out or maybe they can go out jointly.

E

uh Make sure the scene is safe and then and then leave. Certainly there are some.

E

Situations that absolutely the police have to have to be there and we've seen a couple.

E

Of those, but it's it's infrequent so to me it's kind of been surprisingly infrequent.

A

Well, on that note, I will thank you again for making the time we really appreciated this update.

A

And all the detail and information you provided we look forward to continuing to support the effort.

A

And learn more about the progress as it unfolds and thank you for all you've done to make it a.

A

Success, thank you guys and I'll come back anytime. Thank you. So much dennis have a great night.

A

Okay, so we will, in the interest of trying to make up, make sure we can get through the agenda and.

A

The time we have, uh I don't think we need to go through the guidelines for community action and.

A

I do want to make sure we get a chance to vote on the nda policy. um I can speak relatively quickly.

D

On the nda policy, um it is an effort uh motivated by a desire to have the public understand uh for.

D

What reason the city is: spending money on the settlement of a uh some action against the.

D

Police department and what the substance of that might be, and rather than have a absolute ban on.

D

Ndas we decided to shift the make it uh rather than make ndas the regular practice to put the.

D

Burden on whatever entity, be it the city or the police department that wants an nda to convince.

D

uh The police commission, by clearing convincing evidence, a strong burden to meet given the ex.

D

The reasons uh articulated in the policy why there should be an nda in this particular case.

D

So it's a significant change in policy. uh It's no longer automatic ndas, which has been the the.

D

Custom, if not the you know the legal rule or the regulation, um it's a significant change and.

D

Towards transparency uh for all concern you want to make a motion. I make a motion to approve the.

C

Policy regarding non-disclosures agree agreements effective july 1st 2022.. Second, all in favor, aye.

A

Okay, moving on to the facilities update um before I ask uh karen and and the chief for.

A

Specific information about the restoration efforts underway in this current facility, I.

A

Want to share for the public who may be watching at home and for marta who's still here uh we have.

A

um An informal working group has been assembled that the members of that group to date include.

A

Counselor john tabor, joe almeda and peter rice from the city, the chief, the deputy chief and.

A

Commissioner, coyle and that group will work to identify the architecture and design team.

A

That will ultimately help push the public safety facility planning work forward once that firm is.

A

Established and we've got a partner in place, we will evaluate whether it makes sense to broaden.

A

The working group to include citizen participation and other expertise, but that that group has been.

A

Assembled and we're working hard to push push that effort forward to identify the right architecture.

A

Design partner, so this doesn't mean the group will be selecting the site or that things have.

A

Moved beyond at this point, just identifying the right partner who can help us design what needs.

A

To ultimately be designed um any other points or questions on that. Well, certainly we'll try.

C

To give updates from any of the uh working group, anything that comes out of the working group.

C

Just so that the public can stay apprised of our progress. Great and then updates on the restoration.

A

Chief, so the restoration is still taking place, we're moving forward the with a basement with.

B

A woman's locker room, the men's locker room. We ran into a little hiccup with the company that.

B

Was doing a real deal work down? There is uh in the process of going through a bankruptcy, so uh we're.

B

Kind of at a pause moving forward, but we're the interim putting together the pieces from the last.

B

Part that was remediated, but it's still moving forward and we have one woman's.

B

Locker room left and then the court office and dispatch and will be done.

A

um Ability but it's specific to the technology tools we have, and this would have come up.

A

If we had gone through a more complete review of the guidelines for community action, the cat.

A

Rms upgrade process is underway, we've narrowed it down to two potential vendors and the final.

A

Site the final selection: what would you say is happening? How quickly, I would think we're.

B

Just waiting for the left, the two companies that we've whittled it down to to give us a one, less.

B

Demo in well we're hopeful, probably in the next month or two that will have a selected company.

A

Great um so then, let's move on chief to the grandson donation, so we make sure we get those in.

B

The first one is the vawa ground, which is a violence against woman act. The grant was for 25.

B

000 25 dollars. This grant helps to fund 45 percent of the victim. Witness.

B

Advocates salary and includes a cash match contribution. I would move that uh the.

D

Commission accept the grant in the amount of twenty five thousand twenty five dollars.

D

From the hampshire department of justice to help partially fund the department's victim.

D

Witness advocate position and to forward it to the city council for their action. Second, all in favor.

A

Aye second grade is the office of highway safety grant for 53 510.66.

B

This is new to the list of highway safety niches. It's funding for speed equipment with a 20 match.

D

I move that the commission accept the grant in the amount of 53 510.66 from.

D

The new hampshire department of safety for 13 different highway safety initiatives and.

D

To forward uh it to the city council for their action. Second, um all in favor, aye.

B

The last one is a donation to the police explorers program for 240 dollars.

B

A donation was made by the barrington firemen association to the portsmouth police explorers.

B

Program as a thank you for the explorer's assistance at the barrington, troy central.

B

Parade I just to clear something up that I know the city council is mildly curious about what did.

D

The police department solicit this donation in any regard, or was it a so-called freestanding donation.

D

This was a freestanding donation. uh The barrington firemen association was for their thank you to the.

B

Explorers program for assisted living, putting on an event in barrington. uh In that case, I moved to.

D

Accept the donation, the amount of 240 dollars from the barrington firemen association for the police.

D

Portsmouth police explorers program and to forward it to the city council for their action. Second,.

A

All right, so we move the letter every october. Okay and then would you mind giving a brief.

A

Update on the monthly traffic sets and then we can turn to the financial report, foreign.

B

We have july and august. uh In the month of july, there were 623 total total motor vehicle stops.

C

24 summonses 569 warnings and 33 for portable motor vehicle crashes in the month of august.

C

We had 582 motor vehicle stops, 37 summonses, 520 warnings and 48 total reportable vehicle crashes.

A

All right, the financial report before we I'll be very quick. Okay,.

C

Fy 22, um you have the financial report in your packet. We return 291, 773 or 2.75 back to the.

C

City mainly due because of the many vacancies we had for officers and dispatchers last year,.

C

Fy 23 we're tracking two percent under the cap for this period.

C

um In grants, we just got our invitation to apply for our federal icac, so that'll be coming before.

C

You shoot soon and I'll give you an update on this strategic plan next time. Okay, great.

A

So with that I'll remind everyone that our next meeting is tuesday october 18th and.

A

I'll ask for a motion to adjourn all right so moved. Second, all in favor, hi.