Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/21/26 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Police Department
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5790) DOC ID: 5790
Updated: 7/15/2026 3:08 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 Police Department Peer Support and Counseling Services - Approval of a Five- Year Service Agreement with Public Safety Family Counseling Group, Inc (PSFCG) for peer support and counseling services for the Fremont Police Department.
Contact Persons:
Name: Matthew Snelson Matthew Bocage
Title: Police Captain Police Lieutenant
Div/Dept: Police Department Police Department
Phone: 510-790-6874 (510) 790-6800
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The Fremont Police Department (FPD) is seeking authorization for the City Manager, or designee, to enter into a five-year service agreement (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2031) with Public Safety Family Counseling Group, Inc. (PSFCG) to continue to provide counseling services for FPD employees. Staff recommends a contract with PSFCG for the next five years at $126,000 per year for a total amount not to exceed $630,000.
Background: Law enforcement professionals are routinely exposed to traumatic incidents, critical events, organizational stress, and the cumulative effects of serving their communities under demanding conditions. While officers are trained to respond effectively to crises, the emotional and psychological impacts of the profession can be significant. For this reason, peer support programs have become an essential component of modern officer wellness initiatives. These programs provide officers and other exposed personnel with access to trained colleagues who understand the realities of police work and can offer support, guidance, and resources in a manner that is both credible and culturally relevant to the law enforcement profession.
In California, the importance of peer support has been reinforced through the efforts of organizations such as the California Peace Officers' Association (CPOA), which has long promoted leadership development, professional training, and officer wellness initiatives. CPOA has supported education and training efforts related to peer support and mental health awareness, recognizing that officers are more likely to seek assistance from trusted colleagues who have experienced similar occupational challenges. As law enforcement agencies continue to address issues such as stress management, resiliency, suicide prevention, and employee retention, peer Council Staff Report (ID # 5790) Meeting of July 21, 2026 Updated: 7/15/2026 3:08 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 support programs have become increasingly valuable tools for maintaining a healthy workforce.
Discussion/Analysis: PSFCG specializes in Critical Incident Stress Management, peer support programs, crisis response, counseling, and employee wellness services for first responders throughout Northern California. The organization provides agencies with assistance in selecting, training, and clinically overseeing peer support team members. PSFCG emphasizes that professionally supported peer teams, combined with critical incident stress management services, form the backbone of a healthy organization in a high-risk profession. The organization also highlights the value of regional mutual-aid relationships among peer support teams, allowing agencies to draw upon additional resources following major incidents or traumatic events.
The Fremont Police Department has enjoyed and benefited from a 25+ year relationship with PSFCG. In fact, PSFCG’s stellar reputation and industry expertise has allowed their organization to grow such that they now contract services to the vast majority of Alameda County and Contra Costa County police departments, including our Tri-City neighbors in Newark and Union City. Further, as of FY 2023/24, the Fremont Fire Department has contracted services through PSFCG, which has resulted in a 10% discount on the annual rate charged to both city departments.
Staff recommends that the City enter into a five-year agreement with PSFCG with annual payments of $126,000, for a total amount not to exceed $630,000.
Fiscal Impact: Funding for the first year of this agreement was included in the adopted FY 2026/27 General Fund budget for the Police Department.
Environmental Review: The contract for services is exempt from and not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because, without limitation, it is not a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and/or 15378(b)(5) and as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment per CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5790) Meeting of July 21, 2026 Updated: 7/15/2026 3:08 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 3 Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to enter into a service agreement with Public Safety Family Counseling Group, Inc., for a five-year term in an amount not to exceed $630,000.