The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About202312 Police Department Update DecemberDANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT Town Council Update sUAS Mental Health Outreach small town atmosphere, outstanding quality of life December 2023 PAGE 02 A small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), often called “drones” refers to a small aircraft that receives remote commands from a pilot. The sUAS are capable of real-time streaming of video, highly magnified video, and Forward- Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) - a type of night vision. Law enforcement sUAS are instrumental because of their quick response and ability to cover a large amount of ground and do so without putting officers in harms way. The use of sUAS enhances the officers’ ability to keep the public safe. Small Unmanned Aircraft System sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) can safely access areas where officers might face risks, allowing for scene assessment without confrontations. The Danville team consists of five pilots and seven sUAS vehicles. The vehicles range in size, with some being capable of flying over great distances outdoors and others small enough to fly through a home. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS PAGE 03 Accident Reconstruction Small Unmanned Aircraft System Trained operators use sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) for precise technical mapping of vehicle collision scenes. The sUAS, along with specialized software, enables the collection of multiple points of measurement and data, significantly enhancing the reconstruction of collision scenes. Photos above show the use of sUAS and software to map and position vehicles, debris, skid marks and other data points sUAS operators frequently employ their equipment to search for missing persons, enabling them to cover expansive areas. By utilizing low flights, zoom capabilities, and FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) technology, operators gain an enhanced advantage in locating individuals who are missing or lost. Photos show using sUAS for depicting vehicles, debris fields, and other evidence at a collision scene MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION TEAM (MHET) The Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET) is a collaborative initiative addressing mental health issues in the community. A MHET Officer collaborates with a mental health clinician to follow up on police calls related to individuals with mental illness. They jointly assess, consult, and provide mental health services. This proactive, community-oriented approach enhances individual well-being and fosters community safety. From January 1, 2023, to December 8, 2023, MHET has managed and responded to 15 assistance requests. MHET responded to all referrals. The Danville Police Department is dedicated to addressing service calls involving individuals with mental illness. Our officers undergo training to identify individuals in distress and respond appropriately to such crises, prioritizing the safety of the individuals involved, other community members present, and themselves. MENTAL HEALTH PAGE 04 SRVFPD - PUBLIC SAFETY FOR MENTAL HEALTH San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) introduced a new behavioral health response program. Since 2021, they've worked to have firefighters, not law enforcement, respond to most non-violent mental health calls alongside other medical emergencies. The Fire First Response program started in the City of San Ramon in October 2023, and the Town of Danville is committed to ensuring the success of a future phase in the Town of Danville. MENTAL HEALTH A3 - ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME The A3 Crisis Call Center provides care for individuals in mental health emergencies, connecting them with immediate support. Recently transitioning to a 24-hour service, A3 dispatches crisis response teams, including mental health professionals, directly to emergency calls. Danville Officers requested A3 assistance 48 times from January 1, 2023, to December 8, 2023. A3 physically responded on five occasions and provided phone assistance in 12 instances. SENECA FAMILY OF AGENCIES Seneca Family of Agencies, originally Seneca Center, established in 1985, began as a small Bay Area program with a mission to support children and families during challenging times. Over the years, it has grown to offer a wide range of permanency, mental health, education, and juvenile justice services, impacting over 18,000 youth and families annually in California and Washington State. Seneca connects with Danville area schools so they can call directly to help a student in need. PAGE 05 INVOLUNTARY MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENTS When a Danville officer assesses a patient and deems them a threat to themselves, or others, or gravely disabled due to a mental health condition, the patient is detained for up to 72 hours for an involuntary mental health evaluation. SRVFPD staff will then transport the patient to an appropriate facility. The only two facilities approved by the California Department of Public Health as a county LPS-designated 24-hour facility are Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center and the John Muir Behavioral Health Center. Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Services mandates that all commitments be taken to the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center. Officers promptly responded to a missing person report involving a mentally disturbed individual. The woman reported her son, from a mental health group home in a different county, had returned to Danville after being missing for two days, hiding in her neighborhood. Despite not meeting involuntary commitment criteria (WI 5150) or committing a crime, the son raised safety concerns for the family. Officers spent hours navigating the situation, persuading the son to voluntarily return to the group home. With no other transportation alternatives reasonably available, officers drove him back, earning the reporting person's gratitude for their exceptional composure and professionalism. In a letter, she emphasized, "The two officers in our backyard with our son kept our son calm and went beyond the normal call to protect and serve. CASE STUDY 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023*0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 *Projected total for 2023 as of December 8, 2023 79 106 75 91 128 98 88 84 93 81 MENTAL HEALTH Total Mental Health Commitments per W&I 5150 by Year - 10 Year View The Danville Police Department projects to finish the year with about 81 involuntary mental health referrals per Welfare and Institutions code 5150, lower than the ten-year average of 92 commitments per year. PAGE 06 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0 2 4 6 8 10 12 6 8 2 5 9 5 9 6 11 7 6 *7 CASE STUDY A concerned mother contacted Danville Police to report that an adult son was making threats to harm himself with a knife. The son barricaded himself in an upstairs bathroom, refusing to communicate with law enforcement. Utilizing the Danville Police Department's small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS), officers conducted visual surveillance by peering into the bathroom through a second-story window. The drone's information facilitated the development of a strategic plan for officers to enter the bathroom safely, considering the well- being of both the officers and the individual in distress. The ensuing operation resulted in the successful subduing of the son with minimal effort, ensuring no additional harm to the man and no injuries to the responding officers. The mother of the suicidal subject wrote a letter thanking the officers for their help by stating in part, “Our family wants you to know how thankful we are for your ability to protect and serve our family during a mental health crisis where we needed help. When my son locked himself in the bathroom with a knife, they used drone technology to assess his well-being. What a blessing!!!” Total Mental Health Commitments per W&I 5150 by Month MENTAL HEALTH There doesn't seem to be a distinct seasonal trend in the number of mental health commitments. This year, March had the lowest total commitments with two, while September had the highest at 11. PAGE 07 *Projected total for December 2023 as of December 8, 2023 OUTREACH EVENTS Officers from the Danville Police Department actively foster community engagement through a variety of events, including National Night Out, Coffee with the Cops, and Recess with the Cops. These initiatives are crucial in promoting positive interactions, fostering open dialogue, and aiding in crime prevention efforts. Through their participation, the officers not only improve public perception but also play a vital role in educating the community and nurturing trust. This active involvement is instrumental in creating a safer, more cohesive community. The department maintains a consistent presence in the community, with weekly visits to different schools, hosting two to three Coffee with the Cops events each month, and participating extensively in various neighborhoods during the annual National Night Out event every August. STAY CONNECTED www.danville.ca.gov 500 La Gonda Way Danville 925-314-3700 safeguarding the lives, rights, and property of the people we serve