Full Notification

San Mateo, CA – August 8, 2025 – The San Mateo Police Department is proud to announce the hiring of a Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (DVERT) Advocate, effective Sunday, August 3, 2025. Adams will be embedded with SMPD to respond alongside officers to domestic violence incidents. Adams’ role is to provide immediate, trauma-informed support for victims in the field and continue follow-up to connect victims with critical resources. Adams brings over ten years of experience as a mental health case manager in Seattle, WA, and most recently served as a Legal Officer Assistant for San Mateo County Probation. Adams holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington.

The Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team Pilot Program (DVERT) is a partnership between the County of San Mateo’s Sheriff’s Office, Daly City Police Department, San Mateo Police Department, and CORA. The program embeds domestic violence emergency response advocates (DVERT Advocate) within the participating local agencies. In the event of a domestic violence call for assistance, law enforcement and the advocate will both be made aware of the call. Once the scene has been secured by the police department and the victim-survivor has consented to speaking with the advocate, the advocate will engage with the victim-survivor. The goal of this program is to ensure safety, provide support to law enforcement, and provide immediate services to victim-survivors when they are most likely to be receptive.

Chief Ed Barberini believes this program will be of great assistance to the police department and the community at large. “We are thrilled to welcome Kayla Adams to the San Mateo Police Department as part of our DVERT program. Her experience and compassion will be invaluable in providing immediate support to victim-survivors of domestic violence. This partnership allows us to respond more effectively and humanely in some of the most difficult situations our officers encounter. It reflects our ongoing commitment to community-centered policing and to ensuring survivors have the resources and support they need from the very first moment.”

Adams will play an integral role in the San Mateo Police Department Holistic Oriented Policing & Engagement (H.O.P.E) team, which combines law enforcement, clinicians, and specialists to provide compassionate, holistic support aiming to enhance public safety and social services in the community.