Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2024, $550,000)
The City of Vallejo Police Department (VPD) Integrated Health and Resource Team (IHART) expansion project proposes to provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year mobile crisis response to residents of Vallejo, California experiencing mental and/or behavioral health crises, reducing calls for service requiring police presence to address a chronically understaffed police department.
Since July 2023, Vallejo has been in a state of emergency due to VPD’s immense staffing shortages. VPD is operating at less than 50% of its authorized capacity: it has gone from 137 officers in 1991 to 62 officers in 2024 (132 authorized, only 73 sworn in place, 11 of which are on long-term disability/modified duty). This shortage is compounded by high rates of violent crime. Vallejo is continuously ranked one of California’s most dangerous cities, with crime rates 96% higher than national average. VPD receives about 185 911 calls daily.
Primary Activities include expanding IHART to achieve 24 hour, 365 operations; designing, developing, and deploying an assertive community treatment-like model; educate family members and caregivers of those with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) /substance use disorders (SUDs); and enhancing officer and IHART staff knowledge and skills in SMI/SUD treatment. There are no planned conference activities for the recommended award.