June 11, 2024
The Honorable Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey
Judge of the Superior Court
c/o Office of the County Counsel
Attention: Sandra Ontiveros
168 W. Alisal Street, 3rd Floor
Salinas, CA 93901
Re: 2023-2024 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report – “Monterey County’s Response to Community Members Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis” Dear Judge Hulsey:
This letter is the City of Salinas’ response to the Findings and Recommendations of the 2023-2024 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report. I would like to thank members of the Civil Grand Jury for their time and effort to assist us in improving our ability to provide services to our community. In the Final Report, the Civil Grand Jury overall made a total of five Findings and five Recommendations, with four Recommendations specific to the City of Salinas.
As requested by the Civil Grand Jury, the City of Salinas respectfully submits the following responses to the Findings and Recommendations identified for a response in the Final Report.
Findings.
Finding 1. In 2022, there were 662 sworn officers in Monterey County. Those without the 40- hour CIT training, offered twice a year for 35 first responders per session, are unlikely to be as effective at responding to people in crisis, leading to potentially dangerous outcomes for officers and community members.
Response:
The City agrees with this Finding; however, 90% of sworn staff are CIT trained. The remaining 10% are currently scheduled to attend training.
Finding 3. The Mapping Project found no formal collaboration exists among the various entities that respond to people with mental health difficulties who are in crisis. A case-by case response is not a consistent or effective strategy and does not serve the community well.
Honorable Stephanie E. Hulsey
Re: City of Salinas’s Responses to Monterey County Civil Grand Jury
Response:
The City agrees with this finding.
Finding 4. SPD and MCSO have not prepared annual training needs assessments and plans as required by their internal policies. Consequently, their training plans are out of date leaving officers and deputies less equipped/prepared to respond to crisis calls for service and putting themselves and the public at risk.
Response:
The City agrees with this finding.
Finding 5. Current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials are not conspicuously posted on either SPD or MCSO websites causing them to be out of compliance with California Senate Bill 978 and making it more difficult for the public to obtain such information.
Response:
The City agrees with this finding.
Recommendations.
Recommendation 1. Monterey County Department of Behavioral Health develop a POST-certified, abbreviated in-service training course on CIT by December 31, 2024, designed for law enforcement officers who have not taken the 40-hour course to be facilitated annually by Field Training Officers.
Response:
The City agrees with this recommendation; however, it applies to the Monterey County Department of Behavioral Health. The recommendation will not be implemented until Behavioral Health develops and certifies a course with POST.
Recommendation 3. Monterey County appoint a liaison to establish regular meetings among entities such as MCBH, LEAs, 911 dispatchers, hospital ER staff, and relevant nonprofit service providers that respond to individuals with mental health difficulties by July 31, 2024.
Honorable Stephanie E. Hulsey
Re: City of Salinas’s Responses to Monterey County Civil Grand Jury
Response:
The City agrees with this recommendation; however, it applies to the Monterey County Department of Behavioral Health. Moreover, for the past eight years, Salinas Police Commander Brian Johnson has served as the liaison with the Monterey County Behavioral Health Department. In addition, Commander Johnson, is the department’s CIT coordinator working in partnership with Behavioral Health.
Recommendation 4. The Salinas Police Chief and the Monterey County Sheriff prioritize the completion of an annual training needs assessment and plan by no later than July 31, 2024, and by the end of each fiscal year thereafter.
Response:
The City agrees with this recommendation, and as of July 31, 2024, an annual training needs assessment and plan will be implemented and posted on the Salinas Police Department website.
Recommendation 5. The Salinas Police Department and Monterey County Sheriff’s Office conspicuously post all current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials to their websites by June 30, 2024.
Response:
The City agrees with this recommendation and as of June 30, 2024, such record will be posted conspicuously on the Salinas Police Department website.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Civil Grand Jury’s Report.
Honorable Stephanie E. Hulsey
Re: City of Salinas’s Responses to Monterey County Civil Grand Jury
Respectfully submitted,
Kimbley Craig
Mayor
Cc: City Manager
City Attorney
Police Chief