In 2021 we began collaborating with Lake Family Resource Center (Lake FRC) to start a crisis responder program within the Lakeport Police Department
In January of this year, the Crisis Responder was deployed in the field along with Lakeport Police Officers. Since that deployment we have offered services to over 80 individuals, many of them multiple times. Many of these people were experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, behavioral health conditions, Substance Abuse Disorders, or a combination of all these issues. Additionally, many of these same people were also involved with criminal behavior or activities affecting the quality of life for neighborhoods and businesses.
In a recent report to the Lakeport City Council, we cited six cases which were cross section examples of situations we deal with daily. One of those examples involved a male in his 50’s who for the past two years had frequent contacts with law enforcement, resulting in approximately 100+ contacts with police, including for criminal behavior. He was living in substandard conditions with no facilities or the means to meet basic human needs. After approximately six visits and extensive contacts with various partner agencies, we were able to get the man into housing and connect him with behavioral health and addiction services. He is now clean and sober, in transitional housing, and receiving needed available services. For the past six months we have not had a negative interaction with this man. Further information can be found at cityoflakeport.com on the City Council Agenda and Minutes page for June 7, 2022.
Through our partnership with Lake FRC, there is funding to operate this program through September of 2025. However, over the next few years, we hope to expand the program to provide additional needed services to our community. We also want to be clear, when doing our job, we will separate condition from behavior. The criminal behavior affecting the quality of life of our community will be addressed despite voter and legislative changes that have made it much more difficult.
