The First 72 Hours Matter. That’s the title and conclusion of a 2016 Shasta County Grand Jury report on mental health services.
Through its investigation, the Grand Jury wanted to find out what happens to a person having a mental health crisis and what happens to them during an encounter with authorities.
Tuesday night, the Redding City Council voted to send a response letter to the Grand Jury agreeing with its finding that law enforcement members need specific training on responding to calls involving those with mental illnesses.
Mayor Missy McArthur will also say in the response letter that training will be implemented by the end of the year under the direction of police Chief Robert Paoletti. Council member Francie Sullivan, while agreeing, said that training will be expensive and will take officers off the street.
"If you send officers off for a week of training or you even take them off for a few hours that’s however many fewer officers you have to be out on patrol," she said.
Sullivan then tied the issue to a proposed November sales tax initiative, saying more police on the street would help.
The Grand Jury also recommended that the cities of Anderson and Shasta Lake and the Shasta County Sheriff take similar measures.