MOUNT VERNON — In a split decision, Mount Vernon City Council agreed on Monday to create the position of community advocate within the Mount Vernon Police Department.
In the 4-3 vote on the third reading, council members Samantha Scoles, Tammy Woods, and John Francis voted no.
Councilwoman Janis Seavolt said a lot of constituents urged her to vote no, but many also urged her to vote yes. Noting that she had lost a lot of sleep and prayed a lot over the decision, she ultimately voted yes because industry professionals favored creating the position.
“We have to try something because we can’t keep doing the same thing,” she said.
Woods said her no vote did not reflect on the honor and respect she had for the officers. Scoles said her concern was largely financial, as a lot of funding is based on how successful the 12-hour-shift pilot program works in reducing overtime.
At the April 26 council meeting, Scoles requested the administration to get feedback from social service organizations as to how they felt about the advocate position. Mayor Matt Starr presented that information Monday night.
Via phone calls, emails, and face-to-face discussion, the city asked law enforcement providers and social service organizations what they expected from the position. Of the 30 organizations contacted, 28 responded. Respondents were from private organizations, city and county organizations/programs, and law enforcement:
–4 in mental health/addiction counseling
–11 in social support (food, clothing, housing)
–4 family protection/support
–3 support/education for other programs
–1 emergency services
“One hundred percent of the 28 respondents are in favor of this position,” Starr told council during a 6:55 pm Employee & Community Relations Committee meeting.
The biggest expectation respondents have of the advocate position is direct referrals. Other expectations include:
–Collaboration on community initiatives
–Screenings of patients outside of the emergency department
–Reduction in jail admissions
–Triage of cases in real time (Organizations’ staff cannot respond quickly. Typically there is a three-hour minimum response time, sometimes more.)
In addition to the above expectations, Starr said the city expects reduced call time for police officers. Currently, three officers might respond on a call, each handling a different aspect of the situation.
With the community advocate on-scene, one or two of the officers can be released to handle another call as the lead officer and advocate remain on-scene. Starr emphasized that the advocate will never be left alone at the scene.
Developing policies and procedures, monitoring the strain on jail resources and emergency department, and expanding orientation and training to social service and law enforcement providers are key functions.
Police Chief Robert Morgan said the advocate is a salaried position and will have flexibility in working hours. In general, however, the time frame will be 2 to 10 pm. He said the officers are overwhelmingly supportive of the position.
Cost projections are around $106,000 a year. The Knox County Foundation has committed $50,000 a year for two years; a private donor has committed $20,000 at least for the first year. The city will put in about $30,000 for the partial year 2021 and about $50,000 for 2022 if no other money is received.
Morgan said he spoke with the Mental Health and Recovery Board about helping fund the position. He said the board could provide one person about four hours a week.
In a separate Police, Fire, and Civil Defense Committee meeting, Morgan updated council on reforms the MVPD has completed the past 11 months.
Reforms include completely revamping departmental policies and procedures, including relating to restraint of pregnant women, vehicle pursuits, neck restraints, and biased-based policing.
The department has banned neck restraints except in situations where it is the only safety option and added demographics tracking relating to race, age, and gender when making traffic stops.
“We are in line with community demographics,” he said.
Officers are required to sign off that they have read and understand the new policies. Training in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and anti-bias use of force is ongoing.
“New body and cruiser cameras are on the way that will give us more accountability,” Morgan said.
Certain policies such as use of force and vehicle pursuits automatically trigger a review. The shift supervisor conducts the initial review, then the patrol division commander or administrative supervisor. Findings re ultimately submitted to the chief.
A neighborhood watch program was started, with mandatory training for volunteers. Morgan said the volunteers are not to engage in active contact; rather, they are to “witness and report.”
He is hopeful the department will get its final certification in the Ohio Collaborative in the next few weeks.
