REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MINDY CASTO, Interim Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: BURKE FARRAH, Deputy Police Chief
Administrative Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the 2021 Law Enforcement Mental Health & Wellness (LEMHWA) grant program
1. Authorize the Chief of Police to accept $125,000 in grant funding for the 2021 Law Enforcement Mental Health & Wellness (LEMHWA) grant awarded to the Fresno Police Department from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS); and authorize the Chief of Police or designee to enter into and execute the agreement and any amendments.
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt the 38th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2024-122 to appropriate $125,000 in Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program Grant Funding for the Police Department (Requires Five Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council authorize acceptance of $125,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, allowing the Chief of Police or her designee to enter into and execute the agreement and any amendments or modifications and adopt the 38th Amendment to AAR No 2024-122 to appropriate $125,000 of funding into the FY 2025 budget. Funds have been awarded for the 2021 Law Enforcement Mental Health & Wellness grant to the Fresno Police Department.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno has been awarded grant funds of $125,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to provide a licensed mental health clinician, and to provide in-house training to our sworn officers and civilian personnel as well as other agencies within the Central Valley on managing stress, burnout, coping, resiliency and crisis intervention and stress management. The grant period is from September 1, 2021 to February 29, 2026.
BACKGROUND
Several different studies rank officer suicide as the number one cause of death. Other studies indicated that suicide was the second highest-ranking cause of death. A 2013 study by the University at Buffalo found that law enforcement officers committed suicide at a rate of 69% higher than the general population. Sadly, the Fresno Police Department has not escaped this pattern. Implementing Wellness programs in law enforcement agencies nationwide aims to change that.
The efforts of agencies to identify and prevent police suicides should focus on overall mental and emotional well-being instead of the narrower scope of suicide prevention. The benefits include not only suicide prevention but also reductions in lawsuits and complaints against officers, on and off-job injuries, alcoholism and substance abuse occurrences, criminal or other behaviors, divorces, grievances, resignations, and, in some instances, officer-involved shootings.
The Fresno Police Department (FPD) has long committed to Officer Wellness. The three pillars of the wellness program are the Employee Services Unit (ESU), the Companion Officer Program (COP), and the Fresno Police Chaplaincy (FPC). The ESU is department-managed and utilizes trained personnel and the City of Fresno Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to respond to the needs of department employees. The Fresno Police Officer's Association (FPOA) manages the COP, which provides peer support after critical incidents and other traumatic situations. The ESU partners with and refers employees to the FPC to help with their spiritual needs.
Through programs like the EAP and COP, employees can access various resources such as mental health professionals, legal consultation, hotline phone numbers, stress management tools, and critical incident debriefings. FPD employs three full-time Employee Services Coordinators who liaise between the department and its members while coordinating their peer support.
The FPD Employee Services Unit relies on support from the FPD and FPOA to provide mental health support for officers. Both components work together to maintain wellness programs used to support wellness in a traumatic work environment. With the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 1117, which authorizes a local or regional law enforcement agency to establish a peer support and crisis referral program to provide an agencywide network of peer representatives available to aid fellow employees on emotional or professional issues. As a result, there are now incentives and advantages to having the peer support program as an official program under the department's guidance. These advantages include legal protection for both the department and the peer supporter.
Funding from this grant will enable the FPD to partner with a Mental Health Service Provider to provide a full-time, culturally competent licensed mental health clinician at the Public Safety Wellness Center. This will give department employees, both sworn and professional staff, rapid access to a trained mental health professional almost immediately and serve as a way to help break down the barriers to seeking help. The Mental Health Service Provider will be selected via the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process in an award amount not to exceed $43,304 annually or $86,308 over two years.
Additional funding will provide access to classes for members to help maintain mental and physical wellness, discipline and balance. The classes will be taught by experienced instructors with a focus on mental health and calm mindedness. These classes are expected to help reduce officer injuries and improve officer mindset.
Funds will also be used to provide training from subject matter experts (SMEs) to educate members on mental health issues for themselves or their families, providing ways to manage stressor points and resiliency.
This funding will enable the Fresno Police Department to enhance its capabilities, provide employees with new wellness opportunities, and help its peer support program remain a regional leader and mentor in the area of officer wellness.
All purchases of equipment, products, or supplies will go through the appropriate procurement process as required by the Fresno Municipal Code and City of Fresno Purchasing guidelines.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because accepting grant funds does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no net impact to the general fund. The grant provides full cost recovery for all operations, training and supplies for this program during the period of the grant. Expenses will be claimed and reimbursed on a quarterly basis.
Attachments:
Grant Award
Grant Extension
38th Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2024-122