TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CALL MEETING.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
11:37 A.M.
TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
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11:36:10
11:38:20 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I CALL THIS SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO
11:38:22 ORDER.
11:38:22 IF WE CAN HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
11:38:24 >>LUIS VIERA: HERE.
11:38:26 >>ORLANDO GUDES: HERE.
11:38:31 >>BILL CARLSON: HERE.
11:38:32 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HERE.
11:38:33 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
11:38:36 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: (NO RESPONSE)
11:38:40 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
11:38:48 ALL RIGHT.
11:38:48 MR. SHELBY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD.
11:38:51 >>MARTIN SHELBY: THANK YOU.
11:38:54 GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF TAMPA CITY
11:38:56 COUNCIL.
11:38:56 MARTIN SHELBY, COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
11:39:01 SEPTEMBER 10, 2020.
11:39:02 BECAUSE OF THE COVID STATE OF EMERGENCY, THIS MEETING IS
11:39:07 BEING HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATIONS DECISIONS
11:39:09 OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-69 AS EXTENDED BY
11:39:15 20-179 AND 20-193 AND BY CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NUMBER
11:39:20 220-225, TELECONFERENCING WITH VIDEO PRESENTATIONS, AND
11:39:33 REMOTE PARTICIPATION WHICH IS REFERRED TO BY THE STATE OF
11:39:36 FLORIDA STATUTES AND RECALLS AS COMMUNICATION MEDIA
11:39:39 TECHNOLOGY.
11:39:40 THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S SPECIAL CALL MEETING IS TO RECEIVE
11:39:42 A REPORT AND UPDATE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE CITY'S
11:39:45 MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.
11:39:47 THE PUBLIC AND THE CITIZENS OF TAMPA ARE ABLE TO WATCH
11:39:50 AND VIEW THIS MEETING ON CABLE TV, AND THE INTERNET, AND
11:39:54 HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE
11:39:57 METHODS AND IN PERSON INCLUDING THE INTERNET AND THE WEB,
11:40:02 VOICE MAIL, BY MAIL, AND SPEAKING REMOTELY DURING PUBLIC
11:40:07 COMMENT, LIVE, AND IN PERSON BY DOING SO AT THE
11:40:13 TECHNOLOGY THAT'S MADE AVAILABLE AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION
11:40:15 CENTER.
11:40:18 WRITTEN COMMENTS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED THROUGH CITY COUNCIL
11:40:21 AND ARE MADE PART OF THE RECORD.
11:40:24 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
11:40:27 BACK TO YOU.
11:40:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:40:29 SUNS WE HAVE ONE PERSON AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER,
11:40:32 CAN WE GO AHEAD AND GO THERE FIRST AND GO TO THE LIVE
11:40:35 COMMENTS?
11:40:36 >>THE CLERK: YES, SIR.
11:40:39 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:40:46 >> CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY?
11:40:48 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
11:40:48 IF COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND
11:40:51 I'LL START THE CLOCK AT THREE MINUTES FOR YOU.
11:40:53 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU.
11:40:56 LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU ARE READY.
11:40:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD, SIR.
11:41:00 >> THANK YOU.
11:41:06 OKAY.
11:41:06 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD AND SPEAK, SIR.
11:41:09 >> OKAY, YES.
11:41:16 THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, THE MAIN CONCERN IS MULTIPLE
11:41:25 PUBLIC COMMENTS -- [~AUDIO DISTORTION~] IN EUGENE,
11:41:30 OREGON, AND THAT PROGRAM IS MEDICAL RESPONDERS WHO TAKE
11:41:39 THE CALLS IN OREGON.
11:41:46 IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
11:41:47 THE REASON IT'S NOT NECESSARY -- IN 31 YEARS THEY HAVEN'T
11:41:54 HAD A SINGLE DEATH OF A TEAM MEMBER.
11:42:05 [~AUDIO DISTORTION~]
11:42:07 I AM A RESIDENT OF EAST TAMPA.
11:43:15 THAT'S MY COMMUNITY, THAT'S MY FAMILY, AND APPROVE THIS
11:43:20 PROGRAM, PLEASE.
11:43:21 THANKS SO MUCH.
11:43:21 I LOOK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL
11:43:27 MEMBERS.
11:43:31 WE ALSO HAD MEETINGS WITH DIRECTORS OF THE PROGRAM, WILL
11:43:37 FOLLOW UP WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND LOOK FORWARD.
11:43:41 AGAIN
11:43:47 [~AUDIO DISTORTION~]
11:44:04 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU, SIR.
11:44:06 ALL RIGHT.
11:44:07 IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER
11:44:10 THAT'S HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
11:44:11 >>THE CLERK: NO, SIR.
11:44:13 THAT WILL BE IT.
11:44:13 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:44:15 WE HAVE I BELIEVE NINE INDIVIDUALS TO SPEAK, IF YOU WOULD
11:44:21 LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
11:44:23 UNMUTE YOURSELF AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED.
11:44:25 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND I WILL STARTED THE TIME ONCE
11:44:27 YOU BEGIN.
11:44:28 >> THE FIRST WE HAVE IS ERRDAISHA FLOYD.
11:44:33 >> HELLO.
11:44:35 I'M ERRDAISHA FLOYD.
11:44:39 AND I WANT TO SPEAK ON THE ARTICLE SAYING TPD WAS GOING
11:44:49 TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT.
11:44:53 AS IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY CLEAR, PROGRAMS SHOULD NOT BE
11:44:57 NEGOTIATED OR ORGANIZED, SHOULD KNOW DO ANYTHING BY TPD,
11:45:04 NOT EVEN THE MODEL WITH YOU HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR 30
11:45:09 YEARS NOW.
11:45:11 IT'S MIND BOGGLING TO ME WHY YOU WOULD THINK WE WHEN WE
11:45:17 SPECIFICALLY SAID WE WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
11:45:19 YOU WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY HEARD US WHEN WE SAID THAT ...
11:45:27 BUT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE YOU TO PAUSE FOR A
11:45:30 SECOND, REALIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAW, ORDER, AND
11:45:35 GETTING SOMEONE THE ACTUAL CARE AND ATTENTION THEY NEED
11:45:38 FOR A CRISIS, YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT AS A COUNTRY, WE ARE
11:45:42 NOT GOING TO END THE CRISIS, SUBSTANTIALLY ... IN FORCE
11:45:48 WITH STATE MANDATED ... ESPECIALLY NOT CAPABLE.
11:45:55 THAT WOULD BE MORE CRITICAL IN QUESTIONING WHAT WE
11:45:59 FEIGNED OURSELVES IN AND ACTUALLY HAVE THE GUTS TO BE
11:46:02 HONEST ABOUT WHAT THE SOLUTIONS WOULD BE.
11:46:07 AND IF YOU HAD TAKEN THE TIME TO THINK THEN YOU WOULD
11:46:09 KNOW THAT ... IT WOULD NEVER BE ENOUGH.
11:46:15 YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH IS, LOTS OF CRIME AS A
11:46:20 RESULT OF PEOPLE IN CRISIS, IN HOUSING CRISIS, IN CIVIL
11:46:25 CRISIS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT GIVE PEOPLE
11:46:27 THE RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE CRISIS.
11:46:44 THAT'S WHY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES ...
11:46:56 ACCORDING TO THE ADVOCACY CENTER, THE ABILITY, THE JAIL
11:47:02 HAS MORE THAN THREE TIMES MORE INDIVIDUAL.
11:47:08 SO WHY DON'T
11:47:14 NO RECENT ARTICLE, THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR, LAW ENFORCEMENT
11:47:34 TO DETERMINE THE SEVERITY, THE DEGREE OF CRISIS IN A
11:47:39 SITUATION.
11:47:43 ENSURES WE CAN ENSURE BETTER OUTCOME.
11:47:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:47:51 >> LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL.
11:47:56 THANK YOU.
11:47:57 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:47:57 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
11:47:58 >>THE CLERK: NEXT SPEAKER IS JORDANA YAMPOLSKY.
11:48:04 >> HELLO, COUNCILMEN.
11:48:06 LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, WE REALLY ARE ASKING THAT THE
11:48:11 MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE PROGRAMS, LIKE CHRISTY WAS
11:48:16 SAYING, SENDING SOCIAL WORKERS OUT FOR 911 CALLS RELATED
11:48:23 TO THESE NONCRIME RELATED THINGS.
11:48:28 50% OF PEOPLE THAT KILLED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY ARE
11:48:31 NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, NO ONE THINKS THEY ARE, THEY
11:48:35 DON'T THINK THEY ARE, WE NEED TO STOP TRYING TO MAKE
11:48:39 HEALTH CRISIS -- IT'S JUST WRONG.
11:48:43 WE ALL KNOW IT'S NOT TRUE.
11:48:45 IN JULY THE CITY OF ST. PETE DECIDED POLICE WOULD NO
11:48:49 LONGER RESPOND TO NONVIOLENT 911 CALLS AND THEN A WEEK
11:48:54 AGO WE HIRED 25 NEW TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS AND THEN AGAIN
11:48:57 A MONTH AGO ST. PETE TURNED OUT A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
11:49:00 GRANT TO HIRE OFFICERS AGAIN TREATING THE COMMUNITY --
11:49:05 NOT ENOUGH BUT DEFINITELY A START, AND IT'S REALLY
11:49:08 EXPECTED OF YOU ALL TO DECIDE IF THIS IS THE WAY TAMPA
11:49:11 NEEDS TO GO.
11:49:12 WE HAVE BEEN OUT FOR MONTHS AND WE HAVE BEEN CALLING, WE
11:49:14 HAVE BEEN WRITING.
11:49:17 I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER -- I THINK
11:49:24 THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
11:49:25 I THINK YOU GUYS HEAR US AND IT WILL BE VERY OBVIOUS
11:49:28 THROUGH THE DECISION IF YOU ALREADY SERVE YOUR PUBLIC
11:49:32 SERVANT ROLES OR NOT.
11:49:33 THANK YOU.
11:49:33 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:49:34 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
11:49:35 >>THE CLERK: MATTHEW YAMPOLSKY.
11:49:40 >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
11:49:42 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, WE CAN.
11:49:44 GO AHEAD.
11:49:44 >> OKAY.
11:49:47 SO I CAN SIT HERE AND GIVE YOU A BUNCH OF STATS THAT
11:49:51 EVERYBODY ELSE HAS GIVEN YOU.
11:49:52 BUT YOU GUYS HAVE SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN YOU GUYS
11:49:56 AREN'T LIKE WORRIED ABOUT THE FACTS, LIKE YOU DON'T WANT
11:49:59 TO BE CONFUSED BY THE FACTS.
11:50:01 SO MAYBE I CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT.
11:50:05 SO COPS ARE NOT DOCTORS.
11:50:08 COPS ARE NOT MEDICAL WORKERS.
11:50:10 WHY WOULD A COP RESPOND TO A MEDICAL SITUATION?
11:50:15 MY DAD RECENTLY HAD A HEART ATTACK.
11:50:18 WHY WOULD A COP SHOW UP TO HELP MY DAD IN CARDIAC ARREST
11:50:24 EVENT?
11:50:24 NO, THEY WOULDN'T.
11:50:26 SO WHY ARE YOU SENDING A GUY WITH A GUN WHO HAS LITERALLY
11:50:31 NO TRAINING, ZERO TRAINING ON THIS SITUATION WHERE AGAIN,
11:50:37 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THIS, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
11:50:40 HAVE SPENT THEIR ENTIRE ADULT LIVES TRAINING FOR THIS
11:50:43 EXACT SITUATION, AND WE ARE SPENDING -- SEND SOMETHING
11:50:47 GUY WITH MAYBE AT BEST A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, WITH A GUN,
11:50:55 TO CALM THINGS DOWN.
11:50:56 AND THAT MAKES ZERO SENSE.
11:50:59 THAT MAKES ZERO SENSE.
11:51:01 COPS ARE NOT TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, THEY ARE NOT
11:51:04 COUNSELORS, AND THIS SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE POLICE
11:51:09 SURVEY FORM SHOWS THAT OFFICERS RECEIVE AN AVERAGE OF 8
11:51:12 HOURS TOTAL DEDICATED TO CRISIS AND PREVENTION TRAINING.
11:51:15 MEANWHILE, NEARLY 60 HOURS LEARNING HOW TO USE THEIR
11:51:21 GUNS.
11:51:21 SO THIS IS LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GUYS CAN'T
11:51:24 LIKE LOOK AT THIS AND SEE THAT THE COPS ARE NOT NEEDED IN
11:51:27 THIS SITUATION, OKAY?
11:51:28 SO THAT'S WHERE I WILL LEAVE IT ON THAT.
11:51:31 ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, SINCE COUNCILMAN CITRO LAST WEEK
11:51:35 DENIED THAT YOUR AIDE TOLD ME THAT THE HOMELESS SITUATION
11:51:39 IS A COUNTY PROBLEM, NOT A CITY PROBLEM, SO IF YOU DENY
11:51:43 THAT YOU SAID THAT, THEN YOU ARE -- THEN YOU THINK IT IS
11:51:46 A CITY PROBLEM AND NOT A COUNTY PROBLEM.
11:51:49 SO I ASK YOU, MR. CITRO, WHAT IS IT YOU ARE GOING TO DO
11:51:54 ABOUT IT?
11:51:55 SO IT SEEMS WE HAVE $162 MILLION SITTING THERE FOR CHIEF
11:51:59 DUGAN TO SPEND HOWEVER HE LIKES, AND ANOTHER 13 MILLION
11:52:06 TO GIVE HIS STAFF A RAISE, OKAY?
11:52:08 SO IF YOU DENY THAT IT'S A CITY PROBLEM, THE HOMELESS
11:52:12 CRISIS, THEN WHAT IS IT, OKAY?
11:52:16 I WOULD LIKE AN EXPLANATION OF THAT BECAUSE HONESTLY,
11:52:19 IT'S WAY MORE OFFENSIVE THAT YOU DENY THAT IT'S A CITY
11:52:22 PROBLEM THAN EVEN CHARLIE MIRANDA READING A NEWSPAPER AD
11:52:26 IN THE MIDDLE OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
11:52:28 IT'S LIKE EVEN MORE DISGRACEFUL THAN THAT.
11:52:30 SO YOU HOPE YOU CAN RESPOND TO THAT LIKE YOU RESPONDED TO
11:52:37 THAT.
11:52:37 I YIELD MY TIME.
11:52:38 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
11:52:40 >> JUSTIN COFFIE.
11:52:46 MR. COFFIE, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
11:52:51 >> CAN YOU ALL HEAR?
11:52:53 MY NAME IS JUSTIN COFFIE.
11:52:56 THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS HEARING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A
11:52:58 VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.
11:52:59 AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER RAISING THIS TO
11:53:04 THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
11:53:07 AND I ALSO OBVIOUSLY APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOP
11:53:14 REALLY DROVE THERE TO BE SPOKEN ABOUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
11:53:16 IN ADDITION TO WHAT I SAID TONIGHT, NOT MUCH TO REITERATE
11:53:22 EXCEPT FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT THE R OF PRODUCING A
11:53:31 PROGRAM IN THE CITY WHICH IS IN MOST IN LINE WITH CAHOOTS
11:53:35 INCLUDING DENVER, HOUSTON, AND DALLAS, AND MULTIPLE OTHER
11:53:39 CITIES, TO LOOK INTO HAVING THEIR OWN PRIVATE
11:53:42 INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
11:53:43 HOWEVER, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IS HAVING ONE
11:53:48 THAT DOES NOT SEND OUT POLICE OFFICERS BUT THE EMT NURSE,
11:53:55 SOCIAL WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE WELL EQUIPPED TO HANDLE
11:53:58 THESE MATTERS.
11:54:01 CAHOOTS IN 2019 RESPONDED TO A TOTAL OF 24,000 CALLS, AND
11:54:08 ONLY ABOUT 150 OF THEM REQUIRED POLICE BACKUP.
11:54:11 SO IT DOESN'T MATTER -- IT'S NOT A MATTER OF EFFICIENCY.
11:54:17 I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD SEND OUT A POLICE OFFICER.
11:54:21 OBVIOUSLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK WOULD BE TO
11:54:24 HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS BE THE CREATION OF A PILOT
11:54:30 PROGRAM LIKE THIS AND REALLY SPEAK TO THE EFFECTIVENESS
11:54:34 OF HAVING POLICE PRESENCE.
11:54:36 I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS MAY NOT DO
11:54:39 MUCH BETTER SENDING SOMEONE WITH A BADGE OR A GUN, AND
11:54:45 WITH THAT I YIELD MY TIME.
11:54:47 THANK YOU.
11:54:47 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:54:49 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
11:54:49 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXIA ROTBERG.
11:54:55 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
11:54:57 >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
11:54:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, WE CAN.
11:55:00 GO AHEAD.
11:55:00 >> HELLO. LOCAL OFFICERS REPRESENT CREATION OF A CRISIS
11:55:06 RESPONSE TEAM THAT WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH TPD AND
11:55:11 SOCIAL SERVICES NETWORK INDEPENDENTLY RESPOND TO
11:55:13 NONVIOLENT CALLS.
11:55:16 THE PROGRAM IS MODELED AFTER THE PROGRAM IN EUGENE
11:55:19 OREGON, ESTABLISHED IN 1969 TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE
11:55:25 CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.
11:55:29 ORGANIZED IN CITIES LIKE DENVER AND OAKLAND, AND EVEN
11:55:33 CONSULT -- AND TRAIN OTHER CITIES POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
11:55:41 THE RESPONSE TEAM WILL HAVE TO BE A COOPERATIVE EFFORT
11:55:44 BETWEEN THE CITY'S TPD AND SERVICES PROVIDERS.
11:55:48 THE PROGRAM WOULD ENTAIL 911 DISPATCHERS TO IDENTIFY
11:55:52 NONVIOLENT CALLS BUT DO NOT REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND
11:56:00 TEAMS WOULD RESPOND INDEPENDENT OF TPD FOR HEALTH RELATED
11:56:04 CAUSE, AND EMTS AND LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS TO HELP WITH
11:56:12 SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA.
11:56:15 AND IN SOME INSTANCES WHEN APPROPRIATE, MAY RESPOND TO
11:56:17 VIOLENT CALLS ALONGSIDE TPD, BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
11:56:23 MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE NOT OFFICERS, AND PROVIDE
11:56:29 SPECIAL SERVICES IN THE RECOMMEND AM OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
11:56:31 SHOULD BE DISPATCHED FOR DISCIPLINE, AND TAX DOLLARS
11:56:38 FOR --
11:56:42 IN 2019, TPD TOLD THE "TAMPA BAY TIMES" THAT A PROGRAM TO
11:56:46 DIVERT MENTAL HEALTH, THE GOAL FOR TPD.
11:56:52 WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, EXPERTS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH
11:56:57 FIELD AS OPPOSED TO SENDING POLICE OFFICERS.
11:57:03 THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS REFERRED TO AS CRISIS RESPONSE
11:57:14 TEAM, IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN CITIES LIKE HOUSTON AND
11:57:17 DALLAS, AND THE ONES SUPPORTED BY ACTIVISTS, AND LAW
11:57:23 ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, BUT INSTEAD THE ROLE OF HEALTH
11:57:28 PROFESSIONALS EVEN FURTHER ...
11:57:33 THESE PROGRAMS FALL SHORT OF BEING A TRUE MENTAL HEALTH,
11:57:36 THEY DO NOT RESULT IN PUBLIC SERVICE BUDGET OR LESSEN THE
11:57:39 BURDEN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
11:57:45 [~AUDIO DISTORTION~]
11:57:48 HOWEVER I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE
11:57:53 CONFRONTATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE NOT TAKE PLACE IN
11:57:58 A VACUUM, AND BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
11:58:04 CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE IN THE OPEN, FOR ANY PROGRAM TO
11:58:09 BE EFFECTIVE, COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
11:58:12 THANK YOU.
11:58:13 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:58:13 THANK YOU.
11:58:14 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
11:58:15 >>THE CLERK: NEXT SPEAKER IS ROZELL
11:58:21 COFFIE.
11:58:23 >> I THINK MY BROTHER HIGHLIGHTED A KEY COMPONENT THAT IS
11:58:27 INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM.
11:58:30 I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE MOTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND
11:58:33 SOCIAL WELFARE RESPONSE PROGRAM WILL PASS.
11:58:36 THE ONLY THING I URGE THE COUNCILMEN IS TO PUSH FOR THE
11:58:39 INVOLVEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS AT THE INCEPTION OF
11:58:43 THIS PROGRAM.
11:58:44 THE SOONER THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED INTO THE PAPER LAWN IN
11:58:47 COLLABORATION, THE MORE THE PEOPLE OF TAMPA WILL BE
11:58:49 ASSURED THAT THIS WILL BE A ROBUST AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAM.
11:58:53 FOR MANY OF US, IT'S BEEN LONG OVERDUE, AND THIS IS AN
11:58:56 URGENT MATTER.
11:58:58 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
11:58:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:59:00 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
11:59:01 >>THE CLERK: NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL HOWELL.
11:59:05 >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
11:59:09 I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF ALL MY FELLOW CITIZENS
11:59:13 TODAY.
11:59:14 AND I WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF THE
11:59:16 MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE FOR THE CRISIS INTERVENTION
11:59:20 SERVICES.
11:59:20 I ALSO QUANTITY TO THANK ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO
11:59:23 VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE COMMISSION LAST WEEK AND
11:59:26 ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER FOR BRINGING THE MOTION
11:59:29 FORWARD.
11:59:30 I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN
11:59:33 FAITHING FOR THIS.
11:59:34 LIKE HAS BEEN SAID, GET A CHANGE, AND I AM GLAD IT'S
11:59:40 FINALLY COMING TO THE FOREFRONT.
11:59:43 I ALSO WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM
11:59:48 THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AND WHERE IT WOULD
11:59:51 ONLY HAVE CRISIS UNIT CONVENTION OR MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS
11:59:55 RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS.
11:59:57 ALSO, AGAIN LAST WEEK, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER DID A GREAT
12:00:00 JOB EXPLAINING THE DETAILS, AND HE GAVE SOME GOOD
12:00:03 STATISTICS ON THE PROGRAM, AND IT ILLUSTRATED HOW IT WILL
12:00:09 ANSWER MULTIPLE THINGS, ONE, THE PEOPLE'S CALL FOR
12:00:12 CHANGE, ALSO ALLEVIATE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAMPA
12:00:16 POLICE, AND SAVE THE CITY OF TAMPA MONEY, BUT MOST
12:00:18 IMPORTANT OF ALL IT WILL SAVE LIVES.
12:00:20 I STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS
12:00:23 INITIATIVE AND HOPEFULLY GRANT ENOUGH FUNDING FOR A
12:00:25 ROBUST PROGRAM TO USE COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER'S MOTION.
12:00:30 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
12:00:31 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:00:32 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
12:00:32 >>THE CLERK: MEAGGAN THOMAS.
12:00:38 >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS MEAGGAN THOMAS AND I AM A
12:00:43 COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AS WELL AS A VOCATIONAL DOCTOR STUDENT
12:00:47 AND SOMEONE IN THE HEALTH FIELD.
12:00:48 MY TRAINING FIND EVIDENCE BASED WAYS ON HOW TO EFFECTIVE
12:00:54 DEESCALATE A CRISIS.
12:00:56 AND THE REASON I AM CALLING IN TODAY IS TO ASK THAT THE
12:00:58 CITY'S NEW MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE USE COLLABORATION
12:01:03 BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE LOCAL NONPROFIT HEALTH SCARE
12:01:06 AGENCY WITH MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS TAKING THE LEAD ON
12:01:09 THIS.
12:01:09 IN REALITY, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR TAMPA POLICE
12:01:11 DEPARTMENT TO BE IN CHARGE OF HEADING SUCH A HEALTH BASED
12:01:16 PROGRAM.
12:01:17 IN FACT I WOULD EVEN GO AS FAR AS TO SAY IT'S NEGLIGENT.
12:01:20 AND AFTER DECADES OF PASSING OFFICERS WITH HANDLING
12:01:25 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WE HAVE SEEN THESE
12:01:28 SITUATIONS GO SOUTH WAY TOO MANY TIMES.
12:01:30 AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE ALREADY IN -- STATE AND SEEING
12:01:37 OFFICERS WITH A GUN AND UNIFORM JUST ESCALATES THE
12:01:40 SITUATION FROM NONVIOLENT TO VIOLENT IN AN INSTANT.
12:01:44 LET THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS DO THEIR JOB.
12:01:46 AS STATED IN THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS, IT'S ALREADY
12:01:49 EVIDENCE THAT IN OTHER CITIES THAT THE PROGRAM NEED
12:01:57 POLICE BACKUP FOR ONLY ABOUT 1% OF THE CALLS RECEIVED.
12:02:00 NOT ONLY WILL IT COST US MORE MONEY FOR THE CITY, IT
12:02:04 DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.
12:02:06 AND IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, LET'S DO WHATEVER WE CAN
12:02:08 TO GET THIS RIGHT.
12:02:10 THANK YOU.
12:02:10 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:02:13 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
12:02:14 THIS IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER, MADAM CLERK?
12:02:17 >>THE CLERK: YES, SIR. THIS IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER.
12:02:19 AND IT WILL BE GRANT LOVERING.
12:02:23 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD.
12:02:24 >> GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.
12:02:26 GRANT HERE.
12:02:27 SO A FEW QUICK THINGS THAT CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED
12:02:32 ENOUGH, THAT BACKUP IS ONLY NEEDED 1% OF THE TIME WITH
12:02:37 THE PROGRAM.
12:02:37 I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PLANT THE SEED FOR DOING RESEARCH
12:02:41 INTO A VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS PROGRAM TO REDUCE VIOLENCE
12:02:45 IN THE COMMUNITY.
12:02:45 THAT'S DEFINITELY THE NEXT THING WE CAN WORK ON ONCE WE
12:02:48 GET THIS IRONED OUT.
12:02:49 AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION FOR HOW THIS
12:02:53 IS FORMATTED.
12:02:55 THE WAY IT WORKS NOW IS ACTIVIST FOR A WHILE AND THEN
12:02:59 TALK FOR A WHILE, WE DON'T REALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO
12:03:02 FULLY LISTEN AND RESPOND TO EACH OTHER.
12:03:04 I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD THE REST OF MY THREE MINUTES TO ANY
12:03:07 COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAS A COMMENT OR A QUESTION.
12:03:10 AND I HAVE MY COLLEAGUE THERE IN PERSON THAT CAN RESPOND
12:03:13 TO IT.
12:03:13 THANK YOU.
12:03:13 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:03:17 TYPICALLY IN PUBLIC COMMENT, WE JUST HEAR FROM THE
12:03:21 PUBLIC.
12:03:21 WE DON'T RESPOND, UNLESS ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
12:03:26 ANYTHING TO SAY.
12:03:27 BUT GENERALLY PUBLIC COMMENT IS WHERE WE RECEIVE FEEDBACK
12:03:30 AND LISTEN.
12:03:33 ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS?
12:03:40 ALL RIGHT.
12:03:41 MADAM CLERK, IS THAT IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
12:03:44 >>THE CLERK: THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION
12:03:46 OF THIS AGENDA.
12:03:48 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NOW WE GO INTO ITEM 1.
12:03:51 THE ONLY ITEM HERE. WHO WOULD LIKE TO START DISCUSSION
12:03:55 OF SNOW I KNOW COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER BROUGHT THIS UP,
12:03:58 UNLESS STAFF IS ON THE LINE OR CHIEF OF STAFF.
12:04:00 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MR. CHAIRMAN.
12:04:05 I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITY FOLKS
12:04:10 WHO CALLED IN AND TAKEN THEIR TIME TO ADDRESS THIS IN A
12:04:14 VERY SERIOUS MANNER.
12:04:16 OVERALL, I THINK THAT THE COMMENTS WERE POSITIVE AND NOT
12:04:20 TOO ATTACKING.
12:04:23 AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
12:04:28 EVERY COMMUNITY HAS SOME ISSUES.
12:04:32 AND I THINK -- ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR
12:04:36 THEIR INPUT, FOR THE TIME THEY SPENT INTO THIS, IN
12:04:41 RESEARCHING, AND ALL THAT.
12:04:44 I DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK THAT WE ARE NOT LISTENING
12:04:46 BECAUSE WE ARE LISTENING.
12:04:48 AND WE ARE GOING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION
12:04:52 ON THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
12:04:56 I DID HAVE A CHAT WITH THE MEASURE LAST NIGHT, WITH THE
12:05:00 CHIEF OF POLICE THIS MORNING, MR. BENNETT FOR THE LAST
12:05:05 SEVERAL DAYS, AND I THINK WE ARE ALL GOING TO MOVE
12:05:08 FORWARD WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS IN A POSITIVE WAY.
12:05:11 I THINK TPD IS ON THE LINE AND IS GOING TO REPORT TO US
12:05:14 AND I'LL CHIME IN AFTERWARDS.
12:05:16 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:05:21 WHO ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK?
12:05:23 ANYTHING ELSE?
12:05:24 PRESENTATION?
12:05:24 ANYBODY WISHES TO GO?
12:05:26 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I THINK WE CAN HEAR FROM TPD WOULD BE
12:05:29 A GOOD WAY TO GO BUT THAT'S UP TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
12:05:31 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
12:05:32 WHOEVER WE HAVE FROM TPD.
12:05:34 CHIEF OF POLICE OR WHOEVER IS ON THE LINE?
12:05:36 >>JOHN BENNETT: CHIEF OF STAFF.
12:05:41 GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
12:05:43 AND TO THE LISTENING PUBLIC.
12:05:44 WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY
12:05:48 OVER THIS ONE AGENDA ITEM.
12:05:49 WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT COUNCIL IS WILLING TO DO
12:05:52 A SPECIAL CALL MEETING ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ITEM.
12:05:56 AS WE HAVE HEARD BOTH FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM COUNCIL,
12:06:01 DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM, IF YOU WILL, AS WE
12:06:04 MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO TPD IN A
12:06:08 SECOND.
12:06:09 I WILL START WITH CHIEF DUGAN.
12:06:10 AND WE ALSO HAVE ASSISTANT CHIEF LEE BERCAW HERE.
12:06:15 WE ALSO HAVE MORRIS MASSEY AND DENNIS ROGERO FOR ANY
12:06:19 SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
12:06:20 BUT I JUST WANT TO START OUT, BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 31
12:06:25 YEARS, OF SCORES SEEING THE SOCIAL CHALLENGES IN THE
12:06:27 COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH,
12:06:31 SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES.
12:06:33 I CAN GO BACK EIGHT YEARS AGO WHERE THE MAYOR
12:06:36 SPECIFICALLY TOOK OUT OF HER BUDGET AND OPPORTUNITY TO
12:06:38 CREATE THE HOMELESS LIAISON PROGRAM, AND WE ACTUALLY GAVE
12:06:42 VOUCHERS TO THE FRONT LINES TO HOUSE PEOPLE IN AN
12:06:46 EMERGENCY LOCK THE SALVATION ARMY.
12:06:48 SO THIS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GROWTH IN
12:06:51 THIS AREA AND CREATING THE RIGHT PREVENTION AND THE RIGHT
12:06:54 RESPONSE SYSTEM, AND THEN WHATEVER IT TAGS TO FUND THE
12:06:57 FUNDING FOR CO-FUNDING TO GET THIS DONE.
12:07:00 SO WITH THAT, YOU WILL OPPORTUNITY IT OVER TO CHIEF DUGAN
12:07:03 FOR SOME START-UP COMMENTS AND THEN MOVE INTO A BRIEF
12:07:06 PRESENTATION.
12:07:06 CHIEF.
12:07:07 >>CHIEF DUGAN: CHIEF OF POLICE.
12:07:10 I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SPOKE OUT.
12:07:14 I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I CERTAINLY AM LISTENING.
12:07:17 I'M VERY PASSIONATE IN OUR RESPONSE TO PEOPLE WHO MAYBE
12:07:21 ARE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND HOW WE CAN HELP
12:07:23 THEM, AND LOOKING INTO IN MY THREE YEARS AS CHIEF OF
12:07:27 POLICE.
12:07:29 IT JUST IS A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC.
12:07:32 SO I WILL CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE.
12:07:33 I HAVE WITH ME ASSISTANT CHIEF LEE BERCAW WHO IS KIND OF
12:07:37 SPEARHEADING THE PROJECT.
12:07:38 I'M VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN IT.
12:07:40 AND JUST TO REASSURE EVERYONE THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK
12:07:45 WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AS WE BUILD THIS, AND I
12:07:49 DON'T WANT THAT TO GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
12:07:51 SO CHIEF BERCAW WILL EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL.
12:07:56 >> LEE BERCAW, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS.
12:08:00 AND WE SHOULD HAVE A POWER POINT PRESENTATION THAT SHOULD
12:08:03 COME UP ON YOUR SCREEN MOMENTARILY.
12:08:11 WAITING FOR IT TO POP UP.
12:08:25 COUNCIL, I AM NOT SEEING IT ON MY END.
12:08:27 I AM NOT SURE IF YOU ALL ARE SEEING IT.
12:08:29 >>CLERK: I HAVE A POWER POINT UP.
12:08:35 I NEED CTTV TO PANEL IT.
12:08:40 >> LEE BERCAW: THERE IT GOES.
12:08:46 OKAY.
12:08:46 IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
12:08:51 COUNCIL, AS EXPRESSED BY THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND CHIEF OF
12:08:55 POLICE, OUR POLICING STRATEGIES HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE
12:08:58 YEARS.
12:08:58 AND THE PRIOR APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH WAS
12:09:02 CRIMINALIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH.
12:09:05 BY INCARCERATING THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
12:09:08 AND WE APPRECIATE THAT'S INEFFECTIVE AND WE ARE TAKING
12:09:10 STEPS AND WE DO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS AND WE DO WANT
12:09:15 EXPERTS TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO DEVELOP THIS
12:09:17 PROGRAM.
12:09:18 SO I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF OUR PRELIMINARY
12:09:20 RESEARCH, AND THEN WHERE WE PLAN TO GO TO GET THE EXPERT
12:09:25 OPINION ON HOW TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT'S BEST FOR THIS
12:09:28 COMMUNITY.
12:09:29 SOME OF THE STATS MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN COVERED BY SOME
12:09:31 OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
12:09:32 THE PROBLEM IS, IN THE AMOUNT OF MENTAL ILLNESS, THE
12:09:36 NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS REPORTS ONE IN FAVOR
12:09:39 ADULTS EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION EVERY YEAR.
12:09:42 AND ONE IN 20 ACTUALLY LIVE WITH A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS
12:09:46 SUCH AS SCHIZOPHRENIA OR BIPOLAR DISORDER.
12:09:50 THIS IS DEPENDENT ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND/OR
12:09:54 RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND WE FEEL A PROGRAM COULD
12:09:57 HELP NOT ONLY THE CITY BUT THOSE UTILIZERS AS WELL.
12:10:01 TPD IS COMMITTED TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN, AND
12:10:05 ANNOUNCED BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2019 THAT ALL OFFICERS AND
12:10:08 DISPATCHERS WOULD RECEIVE 40 HOURS OF CRISIS INTERVENTION
12:10:13 TRAINING, AND THAT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND THE BECAUSE I CAN
12:10:16 TRAINING.
12:10:16 TPD ALSO PIONEERED DEPARTMENT SCENARIO-BASED TRAINING
12:10:22 INCLUDING DEESCALATION TECHNIQUES. IN THESE SCENARIOS
12:10:25 WERE ACTUALLY GEARED TOWARDS OFFICERS' REACTION, AND THE
12:10:28 SCENARIOS WOULD ADJUST ON HOW THEY HANDLED THE SITUATION.
12:10:33 IN THOSE SCENARIOS, WE TEACH TACTICAL PAUSE AND TEACH
12:10:38 CRITICAL DECISION MAKING SKILLS.
12:10:39 AND BASED ON DR. FOX AND THE USF FINDINGS FROM THE
12:10:44 MAYOR'S COMMUNITY TASK FORCE OR POLICING, WE WILL ADD
12:10:48 ADDITIONAL DEESCALATION TRAINING TO OUR CURRICULUM.
12:10:50 AND CHIEF DUGAN ALREADY MENTIONED THAT LAST WEEK IN HIS
12:10:54 PRESS CONFERENCE AND THAT WOULD BE THE POLICE EXECUTIVE
12:10:56 RESEARCH FORUM INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SUCCESS IT.
12:11:03 TPD ALSO RECENTLY UPDATED THEIR CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM
12:11:07 POLICY, WHICH CONSISTS OF SPECIALIZED TRAINED OFFICERS
12:11:11 ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL THE OTHER OFFICERS WHOSE GOAL IS TO
12:11:15 ATTEMPT TO RESTORE THE INDIVIDUAL TO A APPRAISE CRISIS
12:11:18 LEVEL.
12:11:20 TPD AS MENTIONED BEFORE HAS TWO DEDICATED OFFICERS
12:11:23 APPLYING TO ASSISTING A HOMELESS POPULATION, AND
12:11:26 PROVIDING THESE SOURCES OF REFERRALS AND SERVICES AND
12:11:31 HOUSING TO THE HOMELESS IN OUR AREA.
12:11:33 THE LAST BULLET POINTED I HAVE ON HERE IS WHAT YOU MAY
12:11:36 NOT REALIZE IS OUR ORGANIZATION HAS SPONSORED AN
12:11:40 AGREEMENT WITH THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE IN A VALOR PROGRAM
12:11:45 OR CRISIS UNIT CONVENTION TRAINING AND THAT IS ONGOING
12:11:49 AND IS ON PLACE WITH COVID WITH YOU IT IS REENERGIZED
12:11:52 WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION IS ASSISTING US WITH OUR
12:11:55 CURRICULUM.
12:11:56 AND DEVELOPING TRAINING.
12:11:59 NEXT SLIDE.
12:12:01 THIS SLIDE ACTUALLY COVERS SOME DATA THAT WE REVIEWED.
12:12:05 AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE.
12:12:08 AND AVERAGING ABOUT 5800 CALLS PER YEAR ON POTENTIAL
12:12:13 ASSISTIVE AIDED CASES.
12:12:16 AND IN THOSE CALLS, WE AVERAGED SECTORS F, C AND D AS THE
12:12:23 HEY FREQUENCY AREAS.
12:12:25 SECTOR F IS OUR DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR WHICH WAS THE MOST
12:12:27 ACTIVE WITH THESE TYPES OF CALLS.
12:12:30 OUR PEAK TAMES FOR THESE TYPES OF CALLS ARE OCCURRING
12:12:33 BETWEEN 9 AND MIDNIGHT.
12:12:35 AND WE ARE HOPING WITH ADDITIONAL RESEARCH WE CAN NARROW
12:12:38 THAT WONDER OH DOWN EVEN MORE.
12:12:39 SO THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES RECOGNIZE THE NEED
12:12:42 FOR INNOVATIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND IS COMMITTED TO
12:12:46 IMPLEMENTING THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
12:12:48 AND WE DO HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY IN APPLYING THIS.
12:12:51 HOWEVER, WE WANT TO APPROACH THIS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED
12:12:55 RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES USING A BROAD SCOPE.
12:12:59 OUR INITIAL RESEARCH, NEXT SLIDE, LOOKED INTO SEVEN
12:13:04 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.
12:13:05 THE FIRST ONE I'LL HIGHLIGHT WHICH WAS MENTIONED BY
12:13:08 SEVERAL OF THE CALLERS IS THE EUGENE OREGON POLICE
12:13:12 DEPARTMENT PROGRAM.
12:13:15 IT'S CALLED CAHOOTS WHICH YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT, STANDS FOR
12:13:18 CRISIS ASSISTANCE HELPING OUT ON THE STREET.
12:13:20 THIS PROGRAM IS A LONGSTANDING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP
12:13:23 BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A NONPROFIT CALLED THE
12:13:26 WHITE BERG CLINIC.
12:13:28 THE PROGRAM IS RUN BY A POLICE LIEUTENANT BY THE NAME OF
12:13:32 RON TINTA, THE POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDING CREW, AND ONE
12:13:39 CREW IS ON 24/7 FOR CITY-WIDE APPROACH, AND A SECOND CREW
12:13:43 COMES ON DURING THE PEAK HOURS STARTING AROUND 11 A.M.
12:13:47 THE TEAMS RESPOND WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN POSSIBLE.
12:13:51 HOWEVER, THE LAWTON STRESSED THAT SAFETY IS THEIR
12:13:55 PRIORITY, AND THEY DO HAVE THEM RESPOND WITH THEM AS
12:14:01 NEEDED.
12:14:01 THE CRAW ALSO ADDRESSES REFERRAL OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
12:14:05 THEY DO CHECK ON THE WELFARE CALLS.
12:14:07 BUT THEY DO SOME OTHER CALLS IN ADDITION TO MENTAL
12:14:10 ILLNESS CALLS.
12:14:12 HOWEVER, ONE THING I NOTED THAT THEY DIDN'T DO IN THEIR
12:14:14 PLAN WAS A PREVENTIVE AND FOLLOW-UP PLAN WHICH IS
12:14:17 SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THAT AREA AS
12:14:20 WELL.
12:14:22 THE LAWTON TOLD ME THAT THEIR CRAW IS NOT LAW SENSED
12:14:25 CLINICALLY, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, IF THEY DO HAVE TO BAKER
12:14:29 ACT SOMEONE, THEY DO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COME OUT
12:14:32 TO ASSIST WITH A NONVOLUNTARY BALKER ACT.
12:14:36 THE NEXT AGENCY UP HERE IS THE ST. PETE POLICE DEPARTMENT
12:14:42 AND THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING A CO-RESPONSE MODEL FOR MENTAL
12:14:44 HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE A BECAUSE, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER
12:14:48 SPECIFIC CALLS WILL BE HANDLED BY COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE
12:14:51 LIAISON.
12:14:52 OR SOCIAL WORKERS WITH POLICE OFFICERS.
12:14:55 COMMENT.
12:14:59 >> AND THEY WERE INITIALLY STARTING TO START THEIR
12:15:02 PROGRAM UP IN OCTOBER BUT NOW THEY ARE LOOKING SOMEWHERE
12:15:05 TOWARDS JANUARY.
12:15:07 ORLANDO IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT IS STARTING UP A
12:15:10 PROGRAM, A PILOT PROGRAM WITH THERAPISTS AND SOCIAL
12:15:13 WORKERS, WORK ALONGSIDE WITH PATROL OFFICERS, AND THEY
12:15:17 WILL BE SENT TO COORDINATE AND NAVIGATE MENTAL HEALTH
12:15:20 RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE.
12:15:22 THEY ARE LOOKING TO START THAT UP AGAIN IN OCTOBER.
12:15:26 TAMPA CLEARWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY UTILIZES
12:15:30 MENTAL HEALTH CHECK TEAM.
12:15:32 THIS IS A CHASE US NEGOTIATIONS TEAM, CLAIM ANALYSTS,
12:15:38 MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, PAIRED WITH PATROL OFFICERS,
12:15:41 AND THEY MATCH PROFESSIONALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH
12:15:45 UTILIZERS.
12:15:47 PASCO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CURRENTLY UTILIZES A
12:15:50 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTERVENTION TEAM.
12:15:52 AND THIS CONSISTS OF A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
12:15:55 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THREE BAYCARE BEHAVIORAL
12:16:02 HEALTH OFFICERS, TWO CASE MANAGERS AND A MENTAL HEALTH
12:16:06 SUPERVISOR AND THEN THEY DIVIDE THEIR ASSETS IN BETWEEN
12:16:09 DIFFERENT PATROL DISTRICTS, AND THEY FOCUS ON THE HOURS
12:16:12 OF 8 A.M. AND 8 P.M.
12:16:16 THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS A CRISIS UNIT
12:16:19 CONVENTION RESPONSE TEAM, OR CERT.
12:16:22 THEY STARTED A SIX-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM BACK IN MARCH OF
12:16:25 2008 WHICH PROVIDED EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, THEY MADE IT
12:16:29 PERMANENT LATER THAT SAME YEAR.
12:16:31 THEY DO OPERATE CITY-WIDE.
12:16:34 FOR CALLS.
12:16:34 AND THEY HAVE 12 FULL TIME UNITS THAT ARE PAIRED WITH AN
12:16:37 OFFICER AND A MASTERS LEVEL LICENSED PROFESSIONAL
12:16:41 CLINICIAN.
12:16:42 AND DALLAS, WE SPOKE ABOUT DALLAS, ALSO.
12:16:45 CURRENTLY THEY USE A RAPID INTEGRATION GROUP CALLED CARE
12:16:49 TEAM, OR RITE CARE AS A CO-RESPONDER MODEL. THIS IS A
12:16:53 PARTNERSHIP WITH BOTH DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
12:16:57 AND THEY USE TWO COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AS
12:17:00 PARTNERS, PARKLAND HOSPITAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY.
12:17:06 THEY OPERATE 16 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEAK, AND THEY KEEP
12:17:13 TIME WITH THEIR SERVICES OUT THERE.
12:17:14 THE DALLAS DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY WORKS AS A PARAMEDIC
12:17:17 MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN AND PATROL OFFICER.
12:17:20 AND ONE THING THAT DALLAS NOTED IN THEIR REPORT HERE IS
12:17:24 THAT THE ER PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS DROPPED BY 20% WITH ONLY
12:17:28 2% OF RITE CARE CALLS ENDING IN ARRESTS.
12:17:34 SO THAT'S THE DALLAS PLAN.
12:17:37 THE NEXT SLIDE.
12:17:39 THIS IS THE ACTION PLAN OF THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
12:17:42 TAKING AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH BY EXAMINING THE DATA
12:17:45 AND BEST PRACTICES AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION
12:17:49 THAT'S BEST FOR OUR AREA AND OUR ORGANIZATION.
12:17:52 WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
12:17:55 JUSTIN COFFIE WAS ON THE LANE AND I BELIEVE FOUR OR FIVE
12:17:59 OF HIS TEAM MEMBERS WERE ON THE LINE AND WE HAD A ZOOM
12:18:05 CONFERENCE WITH THEM LAST WEEK AND GOT DIRECT INPUT FROM
12:18:07 THEM.
12:18:08 POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH USF.
12:18:10 DR. KATHLEEN MOORE AND DR. MAX BROMLEY TO ASSIST US IN
12:18:15 DRAFTING A BROAD SCOPE REQUEST FOR APPLICATION FOR AN RFA
12:18:19 TO ASSIST IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INDUSTRY EXPERTS.
12:18:24 BASICALLY WE WANT TO USE THESE EXPERTS TO HELP BUILD A
12:18:27 PROGRAM, NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH
12:18:30 EXPERTS.
12:18:31 WE ARE EXPLORING PUBLIC FUNDS AND GRANT OPTIONS.
12:18:36 WE ARE ACCELERATING THE RFA TIMELINE PROCESS.
12:18:43 WE ASPIRE TO HAVE THIS DONE WITHIN POSITIVE DAYS AND
12:18:45 HOPEFULLY HAVE RESPONSES BACK WITHIN ANOTHER 30 DAYS.
12:18:49 AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS PRESENTATION.
12:18:53 CHIEF BENNETT?
12:18:54 >>JOHN BENNETT: THANK YOU, CHIEF BERCAW.
12:18:57 CHAIRMAN, BEFORE I TURN IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS,
12:19:00 I KIND OF WANT TO PUT AN UNUSUALLY WRAPPER ON THE
12:19:03 PRESENTATION AND TALK ABOUT RESOURCES.
12:19:05 YOU HEARD CHIEF BERCAW AND THE COMMITMENT FROM CHIEF
12:19:09 DUGAN, THE COMMITMENT FROM MEASURE CASTOR AND THE
12:19:11 ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT THE RESEARCH, GATHER THE
12:19:14 INFORMATION, AND THEN SUPPLY THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO THE
12:19:19 GROWTH OF THE CITY.
12:19:21 AND ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS RESOURCES.
12:19:24 CHIEF BERCAW ENDED HIS PRESENTATION WITH GRANT
12:19:27 OPPORTUNITIES.
12:19:28 AND FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS DONE PROVIDER CONTRACTS IN THE
12:19:32 PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THAT'S A
12:19:36 VIABLE OPTION FOR US, IS TO HAVE GRANTS.
12:19:38 NOW, AS WE KNOW, GRANTS REQUIRE IT NOT BE IN THE BUDGET
12:19:45 BECAUSE THEN IT'S ALSO PLANTATION, SO IDEALLY WHETHER
12:19:51 IT'S DIRECT FUNDED, CO-FUNDED, BUDGET FUNDED, THE MEASURE
12:19:54 IS COMMITTED TO FINDING THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT CHIEF
12:19:57 DUGAN AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE RIGHT CONFIGURATION BASED
12:20:00 ON THE RESEARCH, THE INFORMATION WITH THOSE RESOURCES.
12:20:04 SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF KNOT OUT THERE AS A REMINDER
12:20:08 THAT GRANTS HAVE RULE BROUGHT US A LONG WAY IN THIS CITY.
12:20:11 YOU HEARD DURING THE BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT OUR CHIEF
12:20:15 FINANCIAL OFFICER, DENNIS ROGERO, IS INCREASING HIS
12:20:19 GRANTS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS THROUGH ADDITIONAL FTEs.
12:20:25 AGAIN, I CAN'T OVER-EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT ENOUGH OF THESE
12:20:28 HIGH UTILIZER PROGRAMS AND PROVIDERS WORK WELL WITH GRANT
12:20:31 PROGRAMS FOR TWO REASONS.
12:20:32 ONE, IT KIND OF UPSTARTS THE FUNDING AND ACCELERATES THE
12:20:35 PROGRAM.
12:20:35 BUT TWO, IT ALSO YIELDS BEST PRACTICES THAT CAN BE SHARED
12:20:39 ACROSS THE BROADER RESPONSE COMMUNITY FOR FUTURE
12:20:42 PREVENTION AND RESPONSE CIRCUMSTANCES, SO IT'S KIND OF
12:20:48 WHERE EVERYBODY LEARNS TOGETHER ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
12:20:51 THE SPACE, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IS A CHALLENGE NOT JUST
12:20:57 HERE IN TAMPA BUT IN THE ENTIRE PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC
12:21:00 HEALTH COMMUNITY.
12:21:01 SO WITH THAT, CHAIRMAN, I WILL TURN IT BACK TO YOU AND
12:21:02 WE'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
12:21:03 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU.
12:21:04 I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THE PRESENTATION. COUNCIL
12:21:07 MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
12:21:08 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, I KNOW AGAIN YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS
12:21:11 UP.
12:21:12 WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN A DISCUSSION OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME
12:21:14 TO GO DOWN THE LINE?
12:21:16 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER
12:21:20 TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SEE WHAT THE ACTIONS ARE
12:21:25 AND THEN I WILL BE GLAD TO BRING UP THE TAIL END.
12:21:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT. MR. VIERA?
12:21:31 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
12:21:34 I APPRECIATE IT SINCERELY.
12:21:36 AGAIN, I WANTED TO APPLAUD AND THANK COUNCILMAN JOHN
12:21:39 DINGFELDER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
12:21:41 THE WAY I SEE THIS GOING FORWARD, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, I
12:21:47 SUPPORT IT.
12:21:47 I SEE US WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS, I THINK
12:21:50 WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CHIEF OF STAFF
12:21:53 BENNETT HAS BROUGHT UP WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGETING
12:21:56 GRANTS.
12:21:56 AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
12:21:59 AND I OBVIOUSLY DEFER TO HIM ON THIS ISSUE.
12:22:01 I THINK THE GOAL OF THE MOTION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
12:22:04 PROGRAM HAPPENS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
12:22:06 IT'S A MATTER OF POLICY, IN ADDITION TO BUDGET, AND JUST
12:22:11 FROM MY VIEW, AND I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THIS,
12:22:15 THAT WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION PROMISES THAT THIS WILL BE
12:22:18 FUNDED THIS YEAR, I TRUST THEM, TRUST THE WORD OF CHIEF
12:22:22 OF STAFF JOHN BENNETT, A GOOD AND HONORABLE MAN, YOU
12:22:25 KNOW, POTENTIALLY THERE'S A SAYING TRUST BUT VERIFY.
12:22:30 WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT TIMELINE, DEADLINES FROM THIS BODY,
12:22:34 POTENTIALLY BE A WORKSHOP, BUT AGAIN I DEFER ON THE
12:22:40 ISSUES TO COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
12:22:41 THE LARGER RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS ON THIS IS
12:22:47 SO IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S SUCH A PIVOTAL
12:22:51 ISSUE FOR COLLEAGUES TO HAVE BROUGHT UP.
12:22:53 DAY BELIEVE IS SUICIDE AWARENESS DAY IN SUICIDE
12:22:58 PREVENTION MONTH.
12:22:59 MENTAL HEALTH IS A PIVOTAL ISSUE AND ADDING A MENTAL
12:23:03 HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS CERTAINLY CALLED IN SUICIDE AND
12:23:08 MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD THIS
12:23:11 SITUATION.
12:23:11 WE ALL KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS IN A CONSTANT CRISIS.
12:23:14 I SAID IT A MILLION TIMES.
12:23:16 IF YOU HAVE A FRACTURED LEG, YOU GO TO AN ORTHOPEDIC
12:23:22 SURGEON, AND YOU GO TO AN ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE, YOU ARE
12:23:26 NOT SHAMED FOR GOING THERE.
12:23:27 BUT IF YOU SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY, OR IN AN
12:23:31 ACUTE SITUATION, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, OR A JOB LOSS,
12:23:36 YOU SOMETIMES DON'T GET TREATMENT.
12:23:37 AND WHEN YOU DO GET TREATMENT, YOU ALL CAN A CULTURE
12:23:42 READY TO MOCK YOU AND SHAME YOU.
12:23:45 LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, I HAVE HAD CHALLENGES IN MY FAMILY
12:23:48 HISTORY AND IN MY OWN PERSONAL LIFE WITH MENTAL HEALTH
12:23:52 CHALLENGES.
12:23:52 EVERYBODY HAS. BY THAT I MEAN THE SITUATIONAL ANXIETY,
12:23:56 DEPRESSION, ET CETERA.
12:23:58 EVERYBODY HAS THAT AND WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.
12:24:00 I HAVE HAD CHALLENGES.
12:24:01 AND IF IT WASN'T FOR MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND ESPECIALLY MY
12:24:04 PARENTS, AND FAMILY, I DON'T KNOW WHO I WOULD BE TODAY IN
12:24:09 LIFE.
12:24:10 SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE SUPPORT
12:24:12 THAT A LOT OF US HAVE HAD IN OUR CHALLENGES.
12:24:14 WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, MODEST CHALLENGES, SITUATIONAL
12:24:18 CHALLENGES, BECOME UNFETTERED, UNCHECKED, MENTAL HEALTH
12:24:22 CRISES.
12:24:23 AND HERE TODAY IN TAMPA WE HAVE SO MANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE
12:24:27 LOVED ONES WHO TOOK THEIR ARE OWN LIVES, AND THEY GO
12:24:30 FORWARD WITH LIVES WORTH LIVING FOR THE DEPARTED AND ARE
12:24:35 COMMITTED TO TELLING THEIR STORIES. THIS GESTURE I THINK
12:24:38 ACKNOWLEDGES THOSE STORIES.
12:24:39 AND HERE IN FLORIDA, WE ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE ON MENTAL
12:24:44 HEALTH.
12:24:45 WE ARE NEAR THE BOTTOM ON MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING.
12:24:49 NATIONALLY I JUST HEARD UNINSURED AMERICANS ABOUT 33
12:24:52 MILLION WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND FLORIDA HAS --
12:24:57 FLORIDIANS WHO WOULD HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE BUT FOR
12:24:57 MEDICAID EXPANSION MONEY -- THAT MEANS PEOPLE WITH HEALTH
12:25:05 CARE, PEOPLE WITHOUT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT,
12:25:08 AND IN A PANDEMIC, THAT'S POTENTIALLY LETHAL.
12:25:11 SO I SUPPORT THIS STRONGLY.
12:25:13 YOU KNOW, ON ANOTHER END, I THINK ONE OF THE MANY TASKS
12:25:16 THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS IS TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS
12:25:21 WHERE IT CAN BE DONE.
12:25:22 AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE CALLS THAT DEAL WITH MENTAL
12:25:25 HEALTH CHALLENGES.
12:25:26 AND HAVING MENTAL A HEALTH COUNSELOR, WITH AN OFFICER,
12:25:30 GOES A LONG WAY TO POTENTIALLY DEESCALATE THAT SITUATION.
12:25:33 A GREAT DEAL.
12:25:34 WE NEED TO LOOK TOWARDS COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THIS.
12:25:37 I REFER TO GROUPS LIKE CRISIS CENTER.
12:25:39 OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT GRACE POINT AND SO MANY OTHER
12:25:42 PARTNERS IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND AWARENESS.
12:25:46 ON A LARGER ISSUE IN CLOSING, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE OFTEN
12:25:49 SAID ABOUT THE DEBATE ON POLICE, AND PUBLIC SAFETY
12:25:54 BUDGETS, WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING SMARTER, SOME THINGS
12:25:58 THAT I HAVE HEARD A LOT AND THAT I ALWAYS STRESS IS,
12:26:01 PEOPLE WANT CHANGE BUT NOBODY WANTS TO ABANDON PUBLIC
12:26:03 SAFETY.
12:26:04 WE NEED TO INVEST MORE WHEN IT COMES TO KEY AREAS TO
12:26:10 SECURE THE CHANGE THAT WE WANT AS PEOPLE.
12:26:12 THAT MEANS HAVING THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS GO
12:26:14 ALONG WITH OFFICERS ON SOME MENTAL HEALTH CALLS.
12:26:17 THAT MEANS PTSD TRAINING AND AWARENESS FOR LAW
12:26:21 ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; THAT MEANS VETERAN TRAINING; THAT
12:26:24 MEANS IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING WITH AN OUTSIDE PROVIDER,
12:26:27 SOMETHING THAT WON'T COST A LOST OF MONEY, AND THIS BODY
12:26:32 IS PUSHING FOR. UNIVERSAL BODY CAMERAS.
12:26:34 WHAT IS THAT GOING TO COST YOU?
12:26:36 COMMUNITY POLICING.
12:26:37 ENCOURAGING MORE OFFICERS TO LIVE WITHIN CITY LIMITS IN
12:26:40 THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE. ISSUES LIKE THAT ARE
12:26:43 GOING TO COST ADDITIONAL MONEY, AND THIS MENTAL HEALTH
12:26:48 INVESTMENT AS PROPOSED BY COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, AND I
12:26:51 KNOW WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, IS A REALLY
12:26:54 GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.
12:26:55 SO I SUPPORT THIS.
12:26:56 I THINK WE CAN GO FORWARD ON IT IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY IN
12:27:00 PUSHING THE IDEA OF MAKING SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS THIS
12:27:03 YEAR.
12:27:04 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
12:27:05 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:27:07 NEXT UP WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CITRO.
12:27:09 AND I WILL CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE.
12:27:10 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
12:27:13 AND THANKS TO COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER FOR BRINGING THIS TO
12:27:16 THE FOREFRONT.
12:27:19 THERE ARE A FEW THINGS I WOULD SAY.
12:27:21 FIRST OF ALL, MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR GETTING ME IN TOUCH
12:27:24 WITH THE PEOPLE AT GRACE POINT.
12:27:26 A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
12:27:28 GRACE POINT HAS DONE WORK WITH TPD IN TRAINING.
12:27:35 OVER 1,000 OFFICERS IN 2018 AND 2019 CLASSES HOW TO
12:27:40 INTERACT VERBALLY, WITH DEESCALATION, BAKER ACT, AND THEY
12:27:48 CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS TO TPD.
12:27:51 WE DO NEED COLLABORATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS
12:27:59 AND TPD FOR MENTAL ILLNESS CALLS THAT TPD HAS.
12:28:05 I SPOKE WITH MS. TYSON FROM GRACE POINT AND ALSO HAD SOME
12:28:10 COMMUNICATION WITH MR. WEATHERFORD ON THIS.
12:28:13 THERE IS TALK, WE HAD DISCUSSION ON THE MOBILE TEAM
12:28:18 CONSISTING OF A LICENSED CLINICAL PHYSICIAN WITH A
12:28:23 BACHELOR-LEVEL PERSON TO ARRIVE ON SCENE WHEN TPD IS
12:28:29 CALLED OUT, GO ALONG WITH THESE OFFICERS.
12:28:32 AND ONCE ON THE SCENE, ONCE THE OFFICERS HAVE ENSURED THE
12:28:36 SAFETY FOR ALL, ALLOWING THIS TEAM, THIS MOBILE TEAM OF A
12:28:43 LICENSED CLINICAL PHYSICIAN, AND A BACHELOR LEVEL PERSON,
12:28:48 TO TAKE OVER, AND TO GUIDE PEOPLE THAT MAY BE HAVING
12:28:55 ISSUES WITH MENTAL HEALTH, TO SHOW THESE PEOPLE HOW THEY
12:28:59 CAN GET HELP AND GUIDE THEM, TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR
12:29:05 NEED.
12:29:08 I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PARTNERSHIP EVOLVE WITH SOMEBODY
12:29:11 WHO HAS ALREADY WORKED WITH TPD, GRACE POINT, GET
12:29:15 INVOLVED IN THIS, AND LOOK AT AVENUES FOR FUNDING AND
12:29:20 GRANTS SO THAT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM CAN BE THERE TO HELP
12:29:26 PEOPLE WITH MENTAL CHALLENGES.
12:29:30 MR. CHAIR, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
12:29:32 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:29:33 NEXT UP, COUNCIL MEMBER GUDES.
12:29:41 COUNCIL MEMBER GUDES, IF YOU ARE ON THE LINE.
12:29:43 IF NOT, I WILL COME BACK TO YOU.
12:29:45 COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
12:29:46 >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
12:29:56 THANK YOU, MR. DINGFELDER AND ALSO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
12:30:04 THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT BRINGING IDEAS OVER
12:30:07 THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
12:30:07 JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS, CITY COUNCIL HAS VERY LITTLE
12:30:19 POWER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
12:30:21 BY CHARTER, THE POLICE CHIEF IS HIRED AND FIRED BY THE
12:30:26 MAYOR, THE REGULATIONS ARE SET BY THE MAYOR, AND THE
12:30:28 POLICE CHIEF, CHIEF OF STAFF, AND MAYOR'S OFFICE HAVE
12:30:34 BEEN COLLABORATIVE IN WORKING WITH US TO WORK ON SOME OF
12:30:38 THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED BY THE PUBLIC.
12:30:41 BUT CITY COUNCIL, OTHER THAN THE BUDGET, HAS VERY LITTLE
12:30:44 POWER AND INFLUENCE OVER HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RUNS.
12:30:49 WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE LISTENING.
12:30:53 I THINK WE ARE SYMPATHETIC, AND WE AGREE WITH SOME OF THE
12:30:55 THINGS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE PUBLIC.
12:30:59 BUT ALSO, I HAVE TO SAY THAT AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT, THE
12:31:06 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF
12:31:09 POLICE, AND THEY ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF BEING
12:31:12 PROTECTED BY THE POLICE.
12:31:14 AND SO THERE'S A DELICATE BALANCE THERE THAT WE HAVE TO
12:31:17 WALK IN TRYING TO DO THIS AND WE NEED TO DO IT
12:31:20 COLLABORATIVELY.
12:31:21 IN FACT, THE PROTESTS IN SOUTH TAMPA HAVE NOT CONVINCED
12:31:25 PEOPLE THAT -- THAT PEOPLE SPEAKING UP HAVE GOOD IDEAS.
12:31:35 AND SO THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN GET POSITIVE THINGS GOING
12:31:38 FORWARD IS THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
12:31:40 I UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN HOLDING
12:31:43 MEETINGS.
12:31:43 I HAVE ALSO ZOOMED OTHER MEETINGS. I HAVE HEARD FEEDBACK
12:31:48 FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS
12:31:51 ARE NOT AUTHENTIC, THAT THERE'S NOT REAL LISTENING GOING
12:31:55 ON, THAT THERE'S NOT REAL WORK GOING ON, AND SO I
12:31:58 ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
12:32:01 WORK CLOSELY ON THIS.
12:32:03 THE FORUM SHOULD BE THE POLICE COMMUNICATING WITH THE
12:32:07 PUBLIC.
12:32:10 THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FORUM FOR HOLDING THIS, BUT
12:32:12 REALLY IT SHOULD BE A FORUM BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE
12:32:14 PUBLIC TO TRY TO WORK IT OUT.
12:32:17 AND AS I SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE ARE DEALING WITH
12:32:20 MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
12:32:22 THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, BLACK PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE AND
12:32:26 HOMELESS PEOPLE AND CREATED A MILITARISTIC CULTURE THAT
12:32:30 MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DO NOT WANT TO SEE THOSE
12:32:36 THINGS CHANGED.
12:32:37 THE FACT THAT THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESS, PEOPLE IN
12:32:39 DOWNTOWN, APPARENTLY, WAS TO TAKE OUT BENCHES.
12:32:42 IT'S JUST APPALLING.
12:32:44 THERE'S SO MANY APPALLING DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE.
12:32:47 MILITARIZING THE POLICE EMBARRASSED THE CITY OF TAMPA ON
12:32:50 A WORLDWIDE SCALE, AND AROUND THE RNC CONVENTION.
12:32:57 SO NOW THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL ARE ALL
12:33:00 FOCUSED ON HELPING TO ADDRESS THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT
12:33:03 ARE BEING DISCUSSED.
12:33:04 BUT I WOULD ASK THE PUBLIC, PLEASE PARTNER WITH US, IF
12:33:07 YOU WANT TO, MY E-MAIL IS BILL.CARLSON@TAMPAGOV.NET.
12:33:17 I HAVE MET AND SPOKEN WITH MANY PEOPLE ALREADY, BUT WE
12:33:18 WANT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS, WE WANT TO START WORKING
12:33:20 COLLABORATIVELY.
12:33:21 BUT THEN THE CAPACITY THAT IT'S IN.
12:33:24 LET'S FACE IT, MY COLLEAGUE, MR. DINGFELDER, USED THE
12:33:27 BUDGET AS A HOOK TO GET THIS DISCUSSION GOING, BUT
12:33:32 ULTIMATELY HOW THIS IS SET UP OTHER THAN FUNDING IS UP TO
12:33:36 THE ADMINISTRATION.
12:33:37 SO WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM, AND WE WANT TO MOVE
12:33:40 MANY OF THESE ISSUES FORWARD.
12:33:41 BUT WE NEED MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON AT THE SAME
12:33:44 TIME.
12:33:45 AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS THAT BASED ON THE
12:33:47 FEEDBACK OF THE PUBLIC AS YOU ALL HEARD EARLIER TODAY,
12:33:50 AND THE FEEDBACK I HAVE BEEN GETTING, THEY REALLY WANT
12:33:54 THESE PROGRAMS TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE POLICE.
12:33:56 AND AGAIN THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION
12:34:00 OTHER THAN BUDGETING.
12:34:01 BUT I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING
12:34:05 EVERYBODY, LET'S ALL TRY TO SIT DOWN AND WORK TOGETHER
12:34:08 COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES FOR THE
12:34:15 COMMUNITY AND MAKE OUR CITY A BENCHMARK CITY WHERE OTHER
12:34:18 CITIES WILL BE COPYING WHAT WE DO OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
12:34:21 THANK YOU.
12:34:21 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:34:22 COUNCILMAN GUDES, ARE YOU THERE, SIR?
12:34:25 I CALLED ON YOU BUT I THINK THERE WAS A CONNECTION ISSUE.
12:34:28 BUT GO AHEAD IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING.
12:34:29 >>ORLANDO GUDES: AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
12:34:33 MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE PLAYING FIELD TO BE
12:34:33 UP TO THE PLATE. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE
12:34:40 FIELD.
12:34:41 I DEALT WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN MY TIME AT THE POLICE
12:34:45 DEPARTMENT.
12:34:46 I DO UNDERSTAND IT.
12:34:48 YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A PH.D. TO UNDERSTAND SOMEONE IS
12:34:52 HAVING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS GOING ON.
12:35:01 A YOUNG MAN IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS ABOUT 16.
12:35:06 WE WOULD RESPOND TO HIS HOUSE MAYBE EVERY OTHER WEEK.
12:35:11 HIS PARENTS HAD TO PUT SHIELD INSIDE THE HOUSE TO
12:35:17 SEPARATE HIM FROM THE FAMILY BECAUSE THEY FELT HE MIGHT
12:35:19 HURT THEM DURING THE NIGHT, SO HE HAD NO ACCESS TO THE
12:35:21 OTHER SECTIONS OF THE FAMILY HOUSE.
12:35:24 THE OFFICERS DIDN'T KNOW THIS YOUNG MAN SO THEY DIDN'T
12:35:29 UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS.
12:35:30 AND THE REASON I SAY YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY,
12:35:32 THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO HAVE COMMUNITY.
12:35:38 YOU HAVE TO HAVE OFFICERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY.
12:35:40 OFFICERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN -- I DON'T
12:35:43 CARE WHAT COMMUNITY IT IS, UNDERSTAND WHO IS THERE.
12:35:45 UNDERSTAND WHO NEEDS HELP BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.
12:35:52 WHEN YOU ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHEN YOU ARE COACHING,
12:35:53 AND YOU ARE DOING ACTIVITIES.
12:35:55 I LOVE OUR OFFICERS.
12:35:56 I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
12:35:58 BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE OFFICERS WHO DON'T LIVE WITHIN
12:36:02 THE CITY LIMITS.
12:36:03 AND THEY ARE NOT FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF THAT ACTIVITY
12:36:06 GOING ON IN THE CITY LIMITS AND THE COUNTY SOMETIMES.
12:36:08 THAT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY THE
12:36:15 AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
12:36:16 AS I LOOK AT THE LIST OF POTENTIAL PLACES THAT HAVE
12:36:19 PROGRAMS, AND SOME OF THE PLACES DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM.
12:36:25 THEY DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING AND DON'T
12:36:28 UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO BE BAD OR WHAT'S GOING TO BE
12:36:31 GOOD.
12:36:31 I DO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE TO RESEARCH,
12:36:35 BUT ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED
12:36:37 IN THIS PARTNERSHIP.
12:36:42 I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
12:36:45 OTHER SIDE AS WELL.
12:36:46 YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL SIDES.
12:36:50 AND INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY, INVOLVED IN THE POLICE
12:36:53 DEPARTMENT.
12:36:54 I THINK YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A SEAT AT
12:36:58 THE TABLE, TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF INPUT.
12:37:01 YOU CAN'T JUST SHUT THEM OUT.
12:37:04 PEOPLE DON'T WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE, BUT I CAN TELL
12:37:06 YOU, WHEN YOU GO ON THESE CALLS, YES, YOU CAN HAVE SOME
12:37:10 LICENSED PROFESSIONALS THERE, BUT THINGS CAN GO BACK IN A
12:37:13 SPLIT SECOND.
12:37:14 AND YOU MAY NEED SOMEBODY THERE.
12:37:16 I SAW THE HOUSTON PROGRAM.
12:37:20 THEY HAVE LICENSED PEOPLE THAT CAN BAKER ACT.
12:37:24 SO HOPEFULLY THE ADMINISTRATION CAN COME UP WITH A WAY TO
12:37:29 FORMULATE THIS PROGRAM FOR THE COMMUNITY.
12:37:31 BUT AGAIN, WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO MAKE
12:37:35 SURE THAT THEY ARE ON BOARD.
12:37:38 SOMETIMES, CHANGE IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE HARD.
12:37:41 YOU DON'T LIKE CHANGE AT TIMES.
12:37:51 BUT WE HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.
12:37:53 SO I'M HOPING IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO BRING A
12:37:57 SOUND BASED PROGRAM.
12:37:59 I KNOW A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY DON'T WANT THE POLICE
12:38:02 INVOLVED.
12:38:02 BUT AT SOME POINT THE POLICE MAY BE INVOLVED, SO YOU HAVE
12:38:06 TO MAKE SURE THAT'S WHY EVERYONE IS AT THE TABLE.
12:38:12 YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS AT THE
12:38:16 SEAT, EVERYONE IS AT THE TABLE. WHEN WE COLLABORATE
12:38:17 TOGETHER WE COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN.
12:38:17 WHEN WE ARE SEPARATED, WE HAVE DIVISION.
12:38:24 WE HAVE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER, TO HAVE A SOLID PLAN.
12:38:26 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY.
12:38:29 IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER GROUP.
12:38:31 IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL.
12:38:36 IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT COMPROMISE.
12:38:38 WHAT CAN WE DO?
12:38:39 I AM ALWAYS GOING TO SAY THAT.
12:38:40 AND WE HAVE TO SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE EVERYBODY GET
12:38:44 ALONG?
12:38:44 THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ONE PERSON THAT SOMEBODY IS
12:38:51 GOING TO BE UPSET. IT MAY NEVER BE 100%.
12:38:52 IF WE CAN GET THAT 99.9, I THINK THAT'S A GOAL THAT WE
12:38:59 CAN OBTAIN.
12:39:01 I THINK IT'S ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON THE FIELD.
12:39:04 I THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF AGENCY PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN
12:39:07 ON THE FIELD, AND GET ACROSS THE GOAL.
12:39:12 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
12:39:14 I YIELD BACK.
12:39:14 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:39:15 COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR?
12:39:18 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
12:39:20 I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THAT PARTICIPATED,
12:39:26 THE TEN INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO SPOKE VERY
12:39:28 KINDLY, THIS MORNING, OR THIS AFTERNOON, I SHOULD SAY.
12:39:32 I WANT TO THANK CHIEF OF STAFF BENNETT, CHIEF OF POLICE
12:39:36 DUGAN, AND ASSISTANT CHIEF BERCAW.
12:39:39 I BELIEVE THAT ASSISTANT CHIEF BERCAW DID AN EXCELLENT
12:39:44 JOB IN MAKING THE PRESENTATION, WORKING ON ESPECIALLY
12:39:50 WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
12:39:51 I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN VIERA, COUNCILMAN CITRO,
12:39:55 COUNCILMAN CARLSON AND ESPECIALLY COUNCILMAN GUDES WHO
12:39:59 SOUNDED VERY, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE FACTS.
12:40:01 AND WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH IN THIS COUNTRY, AND
12:40:05 HOPEFULLY THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING
12:40:10 TODAY.
12:40:10 THIS COUNTRY HAS NEVER HAD AN EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT'S
12:40:13 GOING THROUGH.
12:40:14 AND I BELIEVE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING -- WE NEED
12:40:21 MORE ATTENTION TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
12:40:22 WHEN YOU HAVE HAD COVID-19, YOU HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU
12:40:25 HAVE FINANCES, AND YOU HAVE DIVISION IN THIS COUNTRY,
12:40:29 MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT GOING TO GET BETTER IN MY OPINION.
12:40:32 I HOPE I AM WRONG.
12:40:33 BUT THESE THINGS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
12:40:35 AND WHEN YOU HAD A 4% UNEMPLOYMENT, NOW BETWEEN 8 AND
12:40:40 10%, IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT COULD
12:40:44 BE ANYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, THAT YOU NEED HELP.
12:40:47 AND THE INDIVIDUAL, I THINK THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION,
12:40:57 FROM WHAT I SEE, IS CERTAINLY DOING THINGS TO MAKE THINGS
12:41:00 RIGHT.
12:41:01 HOWEVER, THE ONLY CAUTION THAT I HAVE IS THAT WE HAVE GOT
12:41:04 TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
12:41:06 AND TO CHANGE TWO OR THREE DIRECTIONS WOULD ONLY BE NOT
12:41:10 GIVING THE PUBLIC THE INFORMATION AND THE HELP THAT THEY
12:41:13 NEED.
12:41:14 POSSIBLY, SOMEBODY MAY SAY YOU WALKED IN AND YOU HAVE A
12:41:18 SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, AND THEY SHOW UP, AND
12:41:21 IT MAY BE JUST A UNIFORM OF SOMEONE AND GETS MORE HEATED.
12:41:28 I DON'T KNOW.
12:41:29 BUT I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS AND I AM JUST SAYING WHAT
12:41:32 COULD BE.
12:41:35 I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING A GOOD VIEW OF THIS,
12:41:39 IS GOING MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN.
12:41:40 I SEE THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SET INROADS.
12:41:43 AND I WANT TO IMPLEMENT THEM ALSO.
12:41:46 I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
12:41:47 YOU DON'T KNOW IF UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES GOING TO BE
12:41:49 500,000, A MILLION OR MORE, BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT
12:41:53 OPINIONS, AND HOPEFULLY THIS THING WILL NOT CONTINUE TO
12:41:57 GROW, BUT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HAVE, SOMETHING
12:42:00 THAT WE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH, IT MAY GROW, BECAUSE LIFE
12:42:05 IS A VERY PRECIOUS THING.
12:42:06 AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT SPOKE TODAY.
12:42:08 AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CAN COME UP
12:42:11 WITH SOME IDEAS, AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN
12:42:15 DINGFELDER FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT, BUT THE
12:42:18 ADMINISTRATION I HOPE AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
12:42:21 DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WITH THE HELP AND BACKING OF THIS
12:42:25 COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GOES UP.
12:42:27 THANK YOU.
12:42:27 YOU HOPE THAT THE GRANTS BECOME AVAILABLE.
12:42:29 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
12:42:30 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:42:32 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK, SIR?
12:42:35 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
12:42:38 COULD I DEFER TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THEN I WILL WRAP
12:42:41 UP?
12:42:41 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT, SIR.
12:42:42 AGAIN I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
12:42:44 I APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION LISTENING.
12:42:48 I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER DINGFELDER FOR BRINGING THIS
12:42:50 UP.
12:42:51 AND WE APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND SPEAK, THE
12:42:53 PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE STREETS MARCHING, AND
12:42:56 SPEAKING.
12:42:58 AND LOOKING AT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE
12:43:04 TAKEN CARE OF THERE, HANDLED THERE DIFFERENTLY.
12:43:06 I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER GUDES WHO BRINGS 30 YEARS OF
12:43:09 EXPERIENCE, I BELIEVE, FROM BEING ON THE STREETS, BEING
12:43:13 IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND BRINGING US SOMETHING THAT IS
12:43:16 VERY IMPORTANT, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE POLICE OFFICERS
12:43:19 WHO THAT DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY, AND ANOTHER DISCUSSION
12:43:23 IS, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
12:43:27 IT'S NOT THE POLICE OFFICERS OR TPD DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN
12:43:31 THE CITY.
12:43:32 IT'S BASED ON THEIR SALARIES, AND BASED ON WHAT'S
12:43:34 AVAILABLE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING AVAILABLE, THERE IS NOT
12:43:36 MUCH OUT THERE.
12:43:37 AND THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
12:43:39 IF YOU LOOK AT HOW TAMPA USED TO BE, I KNOW A LOT OF
12:43:43 RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS FROM 40, 50, 60 YEARS AGO, I GREW
12:43:47 UP IN YBOR CITY, I GREW UP IN WEST TAMPA, I GREW UP IN
12:43:50 SULPHUR SPRINGS.
12:43:51 TAMPA WASN'T AS SPREAD OUT AS IT IS NOW.
12:43:54 NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE OUT IN WESLEY CHAPEL, FOLKS OUT IN
12:43:56 BRANDON AND RIVERVIEW, WHATEVER IT IS.
12:43:58 BUT THE AREA HAS GROWN.
12:44:00 AND AGAIN THE CITY IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE.
12:44:04 AND SOMETHING COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA BROUGHT UP, THIS IS
12:44:08 WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IN THIS COUNTRY IS UNLIKE ANYTHING
12:44:13 WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
12:44:14 IT'S NOT A NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
12:44:16 IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT WE
12:44:20 READ ABOUT AND WE STUDY ABOUT, BUT ON A GREATER SCALE.
12:44:23 AND HAVING SAID THAT, THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT
12:44:27 UP OVER AND OVER WITH MENTAL HEALTH, WE RESPOND TO
12:44:33 CERTAIN CALLS.
12:44:34 THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
12:44:36 BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT CASES AND DIFFERENT
12:44:39 SITUATIONS, HOW MUCH VIOLENCE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED,
12:44:45 HAD THINGS BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY.
12:44:47 AND COUNCILMAN MIRANDA BROUGHT SOMETHING UP TOO WHEN HE
12:44:51 SAID -- (AUDIO DROP).
12:44:56 -- OR ESCALATE THE SITUATION.
12:45:03 SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO LOOK AT NOT JUST IMPROVING AND
12:45:06 INCREASING OUR TRAINING TO OUR EXISTING AND INCOMING
12:45:10 OFFICERS BUT LOOKING AT WORKING WITH MENTAL HEALTH
12:45:13 COUNSELORS, PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THE AREA OF MENTAL
12:45:17 HEALTH, PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND PTSD, PEOPLE THAT
12:45:20 UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAUMA, DIFFERENT TYPES OF
12:45:24 WAYS THAT FOLKS ARE AFFECTED BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN, AND WE
12:45:28 ARE ALL DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW.
12:45:29 AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, DIFFERENT
12:45:32 BACKGROUND, DIFFERENT UPBRINGING, WHATEVER WE HAVE.
12:45:35 BUT WE NEED TO BE READY AND PREPARED AND TO HOW WE CAN
12:45:39 WORK WITH AND HELP AND HANDLE ALL TYPES OF SITUATIONS.
12:45:43 MY CONCERN IS, IF YOU SENT SOMEONE THAT IS NOT A POLICE
12:45:48 OFFICER, ALONE, TO A NONVIOLENT CALL, COULD THAT BECOME A
12:45:54 VIOLENT CALL? YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
12:45:56 AND WE CAN TELL A POLICE OFFICER WHEN YOU PULL SOMEBODY
12:46:00 OVER WHO RUNS A STOP SIGN OR FOR SPEEDING, YOU HAVE TO BE
12:46:04 CAREFUL IN ALL SITUATIONS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
12:46:06 GOING TO HAPPEN.
12:46:07 BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANT TO PUT NONE IN HARM'S
12:46:12 WAY.
12:46:13 THE PERSON THAT MAKES THE CALL, THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT
12:46:16 OR COUNSELOR, OR NONPROFIT THAT RESPOND TO THE CALL, OR
12:46:19 THE POLICE OFFICER.
12:46:20 WE DON'T NEED TO RESORT TO VIOLENCE BUT WE ALSO CAN'T BE
12:46:25 RECKLESS AND FOOLISH AND THINK IT'S A NONVIOLENT CALL,
12:46:28 NONVIOLENT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
12:46:31 ANYTHING CAN CHANGE.
12:46:32 AND THERE'S BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THAT OVER THE YEARS.
12:46:38 SO I WILL STOP THERE.
12:46:40 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRAP IT UP OR
12:46:43 BE IN THE DISCUSSION.
12:46:44 GO AHEAD, SIR.
12:46:45 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
12:46:49 AND YOU WANT TO THANK -- I WILL GET TO STAFF IN A MINUTE
12:46:53 BUT I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEN FOR THEIR DEEP THOUGHTS.
12:46:58 COUNCILMAN VIERA, MY FAMILY, MY STEPBROTHER IN THE PAST
12:47:07 WITH MOSQUITOES OH FRIEND YUCK FOR THE AGE OF 20 AND FOR
12:47:10 THE NEXT 50 YEARS HE SUFFERED WITH THAT AS DID THE
12:47:12 FAMILY.
12:47:13 AND COUNCILMAN VIERA, WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING WITH US.
12:47:19 ALL THE COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN GUDES, YOUR PERSONAL
12:47:23 EXPERIENCE OUT IN THE STREETS, PROTECTING ALL OF US AND
12:47:25 KNOWING THAT COMMUNITY POLICING IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE
12:47:29 AT.
12:47:29 AND THE EBBS AND FLOWS.
12:47:34 WE NEED TO DO MORE OF IT.
12:47:36 ALL THE COUNCILMEN SPOKE ELOQUENTLY.
12:47:39 I APPRECIATE IT.
12:47:40 YOU WON'T RUN THROUGH EVERYBODY'S.
12:47:41 BUT THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHO CALLED IN AT THE BEGINNING
12:47:44 OF THE MEETING, AND SHE LISTED SOME OF THE GOALS THAT I
12:47:48 THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE STRIVING FOR.
12:47:51 SHE SAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS PLEADING WITH US FOR TWO
12:47:54 OR THREE MONTHS TO FOR A CALL FOR CHANGE.
12:47:57 AND I THINK TO ME THAT'S WHAT THIS DISCUSSION IS ABOUT
12:48:03 TODAY.
12:48:04 IT'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RESPOND TO THE T
12:48:07 COMMUNITY IN A POSITIVE, UNITED WAY, AND RESPOND TO THAT
12:48:11 CALL FOR CHANGE, AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
12:48:14 WE ARE DOING SOMETHING.
12:48:15 WE ARE BRINGING A BRAND NEW PROGRAM INTO THIS COMMUNITY
12:48:18 AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING BIG AND WE ARE GOING TO
12:48:20 DO SOMETHING BOLD.
12:48:22 AND I THINK COUNCILMAN CARLSON MADE REFERENCE TO THE
12:48:26 SEPARATION OF POWERS.
12:48:27 I'M NOT HERE TO TRY AND TELL TPD OR THE ADMINISTRATION
12:48:32 WHAT THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE AND WHO IS CONTRACTOR IS
12:48:37 GOING TO BE, ET CETERA.
12:48:38 THAT'S NOT OUR PLACE.
12:48:39 AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WILL BRING A CONTRACT OR TWO,
12:48:43 TO US, AND THEN WE'LL VOTE YAY OR NAY.
12:48:45 BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK IT IS OUR PLACE TO ENCOURAGE
12:48:51 THE ADMINISTRATION TO EFFECT POLICY AND TO TALK ABOUT HOW
12:48:55 MUCH THESE THINGS COST.
12:48:57 ANOTHER THING SHE MENTIONED WAS THIS CAN SAVE LIVES.
12:49:01 AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT A
12:49:06 DEESCALATION OF POLICE RESPONSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MENTAL
12:49:11 HEALTH SUGGESTS, CAN SAVE LIVES.
12:49:13 AND IF HALF THE PEOPLE WHO GET KILLED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
12:49:18 HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS PROBLEMS, THEN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
12:49:20 WE CAN REALLY EFFECT CHANGE.
12:49:23 IN THE HOUSTON MODEL AND ALSO THE EUGENE MODEL HAVE
12:49:25 SHOWN, AND I THINK CHIEF BENNETT SPOKE TO THIS, WE CAN
12:49:29 SAVE MONEY.
12:49:30 SO WHEREVER WE CAN SAVE MONEY, WE CAN REINVEST THAT MONEY
12:49:33 BACK INTO THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM.
12:49:35 AND SO A COST SAVINGS IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF EMS,
12:49:41 THE COST SAVINGS TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF EMERGENCY
12:49:44 ROOM VISITS.
12:49:46 YOU KNOW, WHEREVER THOSE COST SAVINGS ARE, WE CAN FIGURE
12:49:48 OUT HOW TO GET THAT MONEY AND REROUTE IT BACK INTO THE
12:49:52 COMMUNITY AND BACK INTO THESE PROGRAMS.
12:49:55 BUT ONE OF THE THINGS CHIEF BERCAW, I WANTED TO STRESS TO
12:49:59 YOU AND TO CHIEF DUGAN, IS TWO THINGS.
12:50:05 ONE, I DID MENTION THAT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A ROBUST
12:50:07 PROGRAM.
12:50:07 YOU DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DIP OUR TOE IN AND THEN JUST
12:50:12 SORT OF GO IN GENTLY.
12:50:14 I THINK WE NEED TO GO IN STRONG.
12:50:16 AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST SAY WE HAVE
12:50:19 ONE PROGRAM.
12:50:21 YOU KNOW, WE COULD TAKE A COMBINATION OF THE YOU GENE
12:50:24 PROGRAM, THE HOUSTON PROGRAM, THE DALLAS PROGRAM.
12:50:27 WE CAN USE ALL THE BEST OF BOTH PROGRAMS AND MAKE A
12:50:34 HYBRID PROGRAM OF OUR OWN.
12:50:35 AND MAYBE IF THE CALL COMES IN, CHAIRMAN MANISCALCO, YOU
12:50:41 MENTIONED OF COURSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEND UNARMED PEOPLE
12:50:45 TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
12:50:46 BUT IF A CALL COMES IN AND UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES
12:50:48 OBVIOUSLY VERY, VERY MINOR, THEN WE CAN SEND THOSE MENTAL
12:50:53 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITHOUT UNIFORMS, OFFICERS, LIKE
12:50:56 THEY DO IN EUGENE.
12:50:58 BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
12:50:59 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN EUGENE AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
12:51:01 TAMPA.
12:51:02 WE ARE ALL THE SAME PEOPLE.
12:51:03 SO IF THEY COULD DO THAT, THEN. THAT SAVES MONEY.
12:51:08 WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND UNIFORMED OFFICERS.
12:51:11 THAT SAVES MONEY.
12:51:13 SO ANYWAY, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE A HYBRID PROGRAM.
12:51:17 I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT SOMEBODY THAT'S
12:51:22 SCHIZOPHRENIC AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY SEE OFFICERS,
12:51:25 THERE'S FLASHING LIGHTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WE KNOW FOR A
12:51:30 FACT THAT CAN KICK OFF EPISODES AND MAKE A BAD SITUATION
12:51:33 WORSE.
12:51:34 I THINK THAT THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN WITH
12:51:41 UNIQUE SITUATIONS.
12:51:42 BY DO WANT TO DEFEND CHIEF DUGAN BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAID
12:51:45 TPD HAS NO TRAINING IN THESE MATTERS.
12:51:47 NO, TPD HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD CHIEF DOG AN HAS EFFECTIVE
12:51:53 TRAINING, 40 HOURS MANDATED AT A MINIMUM, FOR MENTAL
12:51:56 HEALTH TRAINING FOR ALL SWORN OFFICERS.
12:51:59 AND WE APPRECIATE THAT, CHIEF.
12:52:01 I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE KICKED AROUND
12:52:04 WITHOUT SOME DEFENSE.
12:52:05 BUT ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LAWN IS I THINK WE ALL
12:52:11 ARE WORKING ON THIS TOGETHER.
12:52:13 WE ALL WANT TO -- I THINK WE ALL WANT TO GET TO THE SAME
12:52:16 POINT.
12:52:17 AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
12:52:18 I AM SO THRILLED THAT YEARS OF FRUSTRATION, THE MEASURE,
12:52:24 CHIEF, EVERYBODY INVOLVED, CITY COUNCIL, AND THE
12:52:25 COMMUNITY, WE ALL WANT TO DO GET TO THIS AS COUNCILMAN
12:52:28 GUDES SAID, WE ALL WANT TO GET TO THE SAME GOAL LINE AND
12:52:31 CROSS IT TOGETHER.
12:52:32 SO CHIEF BERCAW OR CHIEF DUGAN, HERE IS WHERE MY MOTION
12:52:41 IS GOING TO GO TODAY.
12:52:42 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WAIT, WAIT.
12:52:43 COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO MEMBER DINGFELDER, I KNOW YOU HAVE
12:52:45 A MOTION, BUT WE HAVE THAT SECOND BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.
12:52:50 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: IF WE ARE GOING TO BUDGET MOTION, MR.
12:52:54 CHAIR, THIS IS JUST A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
12:52:58 I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO JUST WRAP IT UP WITH
12:53:00 THIS.
12:53:01 WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS AGAIN, I USE THE POLICE TERM
12:53:07 DEESCALATE THIS A LITTLE BIT.
12:53:08 AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GO AHEAD AND MAKE A
12:53:11 MOTION, BECAUSE TPD IS DOING IT.
12:53:13 CHIEF BERCAW IS PUTTING THE RFI OUT ON THE STREET WITHIN
12:53:18 30 DAYS.
12:53:19 WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WHICHEVER CHIEF OR CHIEF
12:53:22 BENNETT COME BACK TO US IN 30 DAYS, WITH AN INFORMATIONAL
12:53:28 REPORT AT THE END OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, AND GIVE US AN
12:53:31 UPDATE ON THE RFI, PREFER BLUE MAYBE EVEN SHARE THE RFA
12:53:37 OR THE RFI WITH CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN WE'LL GET PERIODIC
12:53:41 REPORTS.
12:53:43 AFTER 30 DAYS, MAYBE SAY COME BACK TO US IN SIXTY DAYS
12:53:46 AND TELL US WHAT THE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN.
12:53:48 COME BACK TO US SIXTY DAYS LATER AND TELL US HOW MUCH
12:53:52 MONEY YOU NEED TO TRANSFER INTO THIS PROGRAM.
12:53:54 SO WE ARE GOING TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS WITH REGULAR
12:53:58 REPORTS FROM TPD.
12:53:59 SO MY MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, IS VERY SIMPLY, THAT 30 DAYS
12:54:05 FROM NOW AT A MEETING, AND MR. SHELBY CAN HELP ME WITH A
12:54:08 DATE FOR TPD TO COME BACK UNDER STAFF REPORTS, IN PERSON,
12:54:13 IN PERSON STAFF REPORTS, WITH AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRAM,
12:54:17 AND ON THAN THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
12:54:23 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MR. SHELBY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE
12:54:28 CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT IS IT OCTOBER 15?
12:54:32 >> YES, IT IS, UNDER STAFF REPORTS AND UNFINISHED
12:54:35 BUSINESS.
12:54:36 OCTOBER 15.
12:54:36 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION FOR TODAY.
12:54:40 >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
12:54:44 WHO WAS THE SECOND?
12:54:46 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MIRANDA.
12:54:48 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MIRANDA WAS THE SECOND.
12:54:50 ANY DISCUSSION?
12:54:51 HEARING NONE, IS THERE ANYBODY OPPOSED TO THIS?
12:54:56 I HEAR NONE.
12:54:57 BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT, OCTOBER 15 UNDER STAFF REPORTS.
12:55:00 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER'S MOTION.
12:55:02 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:55:05 IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS TIME?
12:55:07 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
12:55:08 THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
12:55:11 THANK YOU, STAFF.
12:55:12 >>MARTIN SHELBY: MR. CHAIRMAN?
12:55:14 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND
12:55:16 FILE FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS?
12:55:18 MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN GUDES.
12:55:20 SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:55:21 IS THERE ANY OBJECTION?
12:55:23 I HEAR NONE.
12:55:24 BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT WE MOVED TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
12:55:27 WE ARE ADJOURNED.
12:55:31 WE HAVE THE 5:01 P.M. EVENING SESSION.
12:55:33 SO WE WILL SEE YOU THEN.
12:55:36 THAT WILL BE VIRTUAL.
12:55:38 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:55:39 WE ARE ADJOURNED.
12:55:45 THANK YOU.
12:55:49 (MEETING ADJOURNED)
12:55:52
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