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Tampa City Council urges mental health expert involvement in police calls

The City Council votes unanimously to work with Mayor Jane Castor on improving police response to mental health issues. The details remain unclear.
 
Tampa activists and protesters applauded City Council member John Dingfelder's proposal to funnel $1 million to mental health responses to police calls.
Tampa activists and protesters applauded City Council member John Dingfelder's proposal to funnel $1 million to mental health responses to police calls. [ OCTAVIO JONES | Tampa Bay Times ]
Published Sept. 10, 2020|Updated Sept. 10, 2020

TAMPA — Mayor Jane Castor supports retooling how police officers respond to mental health calls, her chief of staff told City Council members Thursday.

But she wants to look for grants to kickstart an initiative — not city dollars. That was okay with council members, who voted unanimously to work together with her administration to find money to involve mental health professionals in police responses.

At issue: should some police officers receive specialized training and respond in tandem with a social worker or mental health counselor? Or should police stay out of it altogether?

The Tampa Police Department favors approaches taken in Houston and Dallas, which pair officers with civilians, rather than models supported by activists — several of whom spoke Thursday — that would see Tampa pursue a more civilian-based approach like the program in Eugene, Oregon.

Castor favors revamping responses, said her chief of staff John Bennett, “in the right configuration.”

Council members can’t order anything. The city’s charter gives Castor the power over police operations. But John Dingfelder, who raised the issue last week, said it was time for the city to go “big and bold.”

“This is a place where we can really effect change and save money,” he said.

Assistant Police Chief Lee Bercaw said the city will issue bids and should have more details in the next few months. Chief Brian Dugan said a better mental health response is a priority for him.

The slow pace pleased some council members.

“We got to make sure we do it right the first time,” said Charlie Miranda.

Dingfelder said he was confident that the council and administration could find common ground.

“We’re all going to move forward working together,” Dingfelder said.

Dingfelder had asked for $1 million to be included in next year’s budget, which council members are set to vote on Sept. 16.

On Thursday, Dingfelder said he would be satisfied with an update from the police in a month.

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