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Agenda
Mayor’s Task Force on Re-imagining Public Safety
7 p.m. January 14, 2021
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Due to current public health concerns, the Mayor’s Task Force on Re-imagining Public Safety will conduct this
meeting remotely using Zoom. The public can view and listen to the meeting via live streaming video on the
town’s YouTube channel.
Compliance with the American with Disabilities Act interpreter services and/or special sound equipment is
available on request. If you are disabled and need assistance with reasonable accommodations, call the Town
Clerk’s Office at 919-296-9443.
1.Roll call
2.Audience comments not related to the printed agenda
3.Welcome
4.Items for decision
Minutes: Dec. 10, 2020 meeting
5.Presentation: Mental health calls and the Hillsborough Police Department
Chief Hampton will give an overview of
A.Local data regarding mental health-related calls
B.Anecdotal examples of these types of calls
C.Training received by HPD officers to assist in these calls
D.Opportunity for task force members Q & A
6.Items for discussion
Articles on alternative mental health response
7.Set date for next meeting
8.Adjourn
Police Management Analyst Eli Valsing
127 N. Churton St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-296-9540 | eli.valsing@hillsboroughnc.gov
www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov
Mayor’s Task Force Agenda | 2 of 4
HPD 2020 CIT Incidents
OTHER
VOLUNTARY COMMITTMENT
INVOLUNTARY COMMITTMENT
CIT RESPONSE
102
100
50
0
Hillsborough Police Department Crisis Intervention Response - 2020
Police officers frequently interact with individuals in mental health crisis, in part due to the decline of public
mental health budgets. In 2020, the Hillsborough Police Department (HPD) received 173 calls for service (911
calls) related to mental health, overdose, suicide attempts, or involuntary commitment (IVC). These calls resulted
in 102 interactions with individuals in crisis, or 1 every 3.6 days. In 2019 the HPD filed 72 incident reports as a
result of crisis intervention calls, putting the rate of increase from 2019 to 2020 at 38%.
The 102 interactions are
documented with incident
reports and assigned an
offense code. Of these
incidents 69% result in the
subject being hospitalized,
either voluntarily or
involuntarily.
4
29
47
23
When reviewed by the time of day and the days of the week, we see a mostly even distribution, with the number
of cases being higher in the afternoons and evening hours. The law enforcement crisis intervention model is most
successful if community partners are available for referrals and this analysis helps to understand the necessity of
24/7 availability on the part of community partners.
HPD, 2020 Crisis Calls for Service by
Time of Day
80
60
40
20
HPD, 2020 Crisis Calls for Service by
Day of Week
30
20
10
0
12 a.m. –
5:59 a.m.
6 a.m. –
11:59 a.m.
12 p.m. –
5:59 p.m.
6 p.m. –
11:59 p.m.
0
MO TU
WE TH FR SA SU
Crisis calls include a range of situations and they frequently result in subjects being transported to the hospital.
Typically, a family member or friend is concerned for the subject and calls 911 to enlist assistance with erratic or
self-harming behavior. A few examples from 2020 follow:
3
2
4
6
2020 HPD Crisis Intervention
Calls for Service
173
160
120
80
102 40
0
CIT Incidents
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
Mayor’s Task Force Agenda | 3 of 4
Example 1. A woman called 911 to ask assistance because she was having suicidal thoughts. She was at her
daughter’s apartment but was not able to tell the dispatcher exactly where the apartment was. After searching
based on vague descriptions for 25 minutes the daughter called and gave the exact location. She was transported
to the hospital for evaluation and treatment voluntarily.
Example 2. Officers respond to a call regarding a young man with mental issues carrying an axe. When they arrive,
he gives them the ax and does not seem violent or likely to harm himself, although he does seem to be in crisis.
The officers tell his family the process for obtaining an IVC, which they do the same day. Officers locate the young
man under the I-85 bridge and transport him to UNC-Chapel Hill.
Example 3. A suicidal subject is reported, and officers find him. He says he is going to jump off the I85 S. Churton
bridge and the only way they can stop him is to shoot him. One of the officers continues to talk with him and he
eventually allows them to transport him to the hospital. Given the immediacy of the situation it qualifies as an
emergency custody, although no force was needed. Commitment papers are acquired after transport.
Example 4. Officers respond to a suicide call at the methadone clinic on Mayo Street. The subject had been
discharged from the hospital and sent to the clinic to get his dose of methadone. Staff at the clinic was familiar
with the subject and said they could not provide the methadone due to a known pattern of repeat overdose on
methadone, or other non-prescribed medicines. Officers advised staff that without an IVC they had no authority
over the subject, and it did not seem there was probable cause for an IVC, due to the subject being sober at the
time. Subject agreed to go to the hospital voluntarily because that was the only option to obtain methadone,
officers provided transportation for the subject, and clinic staff went to the hospital to explain the concern for a
repeat of established behavior patterns.
Use of Force
In 2020, the HPD used force in 6 of the crisis intervention responses, which is a rate of 6%. All 6 incidents resulted
in involuntary commitment, 2 of them were juvenile subjects, 2 of them were calls to assist another agency, and
for 5 of them EMS was also at the scene. In the incident not involving EMS, child protective services were
contacted for case information.
1. Call for assistance to EMS for attempted suicide. Subject did not want to accompany EMS to hospital. In
the process of handcuffing subject kicked and bit, and reasonable force was used to gain control. Subject
also kicked as EMS attempted to put their shoes on.
2. Call regarding subject passed out on bench, after huffing from a can and vomiting. Earlier in the day this
same subject had been trespassed from Walmart due to passing out in the bathroom. Subject wakes up.
EMS and Fire arrive. EMS wanted to transport to hospital considering this is the 2nd incident in one day.
Subject tries to flee on bicycle, is stopped, brought to knees in order to handcuff, and transported to
hospital on emergency commitment.
3. Called to home for IVC order. Mother met outside and warned her son/subject might flee or fight. Officers
explain to subject they will take him to hospital. As they attempt to put him in handcuffs he flees, is
stopped, brought to the ground, and handcuffed. After being placed in patrol car he bangs his head on
back of car and tries to strike the cage. EMS arrives. Subject tries to remove handcuffs, injuring himself.
Kicks door of car. Spits on Officer. Spit hood placed on subject. Subject restrained on stretcher. Subject
has ups and downs throughout and was removed from all restraints after arriving at hospital.
4. IVC papers, taken out by mother, received for subject who had been reported earlier in the day as highly
intoxicated. When officers respond, he is passed out asleep on the floor. EMS responds as well. After
some time, he wakes up and starts eating food that is on the stove. Officers explain he will be transported
Mayor’s Task Force Agenda | 4 of 4
to the hospital and ask him to stop eating so they can take him. He refuses. Subject resists and is taken to
the ground to handcuff and is transported to the hospital on a stretcher.
5. Respond to wellbeing check for Airbnb tenant, called in by owner. Subject was locked in bathroom, taking
a bath, and huffing canned air. Officers enter and ask subject to stop huffing. Subject does not and officers
take the can. EMS called and arrives. In the past 2 months same subject had been involuntarily committed
by 2 other agencies. EMS clears subject of needing medical attention. Other tenant reports behavior was
ongoing all day. Subject is downstairs and starts huffing again. Subject resists while officers take can and
handcuff subject. Subject transported to magistrate’s office for IVC request, which is granted. Hospital
staff say subject should not be brought in for huffing again. Subject has not sought help after previous
incidents. Subject is cited for inhaling a toxic substance and is transported back home.
6. Respond to a disturbance. The subject is juvenile and in a parked car with 2 adults. Another adult is on
porch of house and is subject’s legal guardian. Subject wants to go with woman but is told it is not
possible. Subject gets out of the vehicle, is angry, throwing his shoes and yelling. Attempts to leave on a
bike and is blocked. Gets a dog on a leash with aim of attacking officers and is forced to let go of leash.
Gets a laptop and yells song lyrics, it is taken away. Gets broom stick and is hitting a pole with it. Officers
assist subject to sit on porch. Subject asks officers to shoot them and wants a knife to stab himself. IVC
papers are obtained. Meanwhile subject calms down and is transported to hospital without further
complaint.
Training
Law enforcement training that focuses on dealing with people in crisis is offered in the basic academy, and post-
academy as part of some annual in-service training, and in specialized courses.
• In the basic academy there is a 24-hour Individuals with Mental Illness and Developmental Difficulties
course that specifically address interacting with these populations. In addition, similar themes are woven
into blocks on use of force and responding to victims and the public, as well as other blocks.
• Annual in-service topics are set by the State. The topic areas change from year to year, but typically
include a block on mental illness response every year or every other year.
• One focused tool is a course called Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). CIT is a week -long class offered
through a partnership of law enforcement, community colleges and mental health providers. The course
involves hands-on scenario training and focuses on resources and escalation. This course is typically only
offered 1-2 times a year, and we can typically only get 1-2 officers into each session. At this time, 68%
(13/19) of our patrol officers have completed this training. Our goal is to have 110% of our staff CIT
certified.