City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2025 FROM: RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT ACCEPTING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES – 2025/2026 LAW ENFORCEMENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACT IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Approve an agreement accepting the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2025/2026 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects grant award in the amount of $200,000 for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the same amount.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve an agreement accepting the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2025/2026 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects grant award in the amount of $200,000 for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027; With at least five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $200,000, or the actual the grant award, and appropriate expenditures in the same amount in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, 2025/2026 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Program revenue and expenditure accounts; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all grant documents and any subsequent amendments or modifications with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2025/2026 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects Grant Program, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) was enacted in January 2018 by Congress to address the critical need for mental health resources and support within the law enforcement community. The LEMHWA directed the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), to identify and share best practices, develop training and resources, and fund programs that enhance officer wellness and resilience. To implement the goals of the Act, the COPS Office established the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects grant program.
The COPS Office 2025/2026 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects program prioritizes wellness by providing resources to law enforcement agencies to support mental health and wellness efforts. This priority increases the ability of agencies to create a more compassionate, effective, and resilient workforce that fosters a safer environment for both officers and the communities they serve.
DISCUSSION:
The U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects program provides funding to law enforcement agencies to implement new or enhance existing programs that offer training and services to support officers emotional and mental health including through counseling programs, peer mentoring, suicide prevention, stress reduction, and police officer family services. The intent of the program is to create a more compassionate, effective, and resilient workforce that fosters a safer environment for both officers and the communities they serve.
The Riverside Police Department applied for grant funds that would support the City’s commitment to providing high-quality municipal services to ensure a safe, inclusive, and livable community. This project will benefit all sworn and civilian employees within the Riverside Police Department and ultimately benefit the City of Riverside by strengthening the mental and psychological wellbeing of its police force. By supporting employee wellness, law enforcement officers will be equipped to effectively respond to crime and violence.
The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects program will be implemented by the Riverside Police Department’s Wellness Unit. The grant funds will support a range of wellness initiatives, including on-site mental health services, suicide awareness and intervention training, mindfulness and stress management programs, and financial literacy education. Funding will also enable participation in wellness-related training courses and conferences hosted by leading public safety organizations, such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Public Safety Peer Support Association. In addition, the department plans to expand training opportunities for peer support team members and chaplains to strengthen internal capacity. All funded activities and associated outcomes will be reported to the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
The Department was awarded $200,000 to support these wellness initiatives and the grant term runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is an increase in revenues and expenditures in the amount of $200,000, or the actual award amount. No matching funds are required for the grant award.
Upon City Council approval, an increase in revenue in the amount of the award and an equal amount of appropriations will be recorded in the funds and programs in the table below:
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
Grants & Restricted Programs
Revenue
25/26 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects 9185900-331100
$200,000
Total Revenue
$200,000
Expenditures
25/26 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects – Professional Services 9185900 -421000
$135,852
25/26 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects – Meeting and Conference 9185900 -427100
$45,966
25/26 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects - Indirect Costs 9185900-881300
$18,182
Total Expenditures
$200,000
Prepared by: Brandi Becker, Police Administrator
Approved by: Larry V. Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachment: Agreement
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects - Page 1