Subject
title
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Montgomery County for the provision of a Mental Health Specialist for the Rockville City Police Department.
end
Department
Police
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Mayor and Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Montgomery County for the provision of Mental Health Specialist services for the Rockville City Police Department.
Change in Law or Policy
None
Discussion
The Rockville City Police Department contracted a mental health clinician from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services in FY 2022. This position is embedded in the Rockville City Police Department to provide additional support in the handling of calls for those in crisis. Since the program’s inception, the Mental Health Specialist has been responding to calls for service, providing on scene support and guidance to Rockville City Police Department personnel. The Mental Health Specialist works in concert with Rockville City Police Officers in de-escalating situations. The Mental Health Specialist plays a critical role in assisting community members navigate various resources as needed through post incident follow-up.
The Rockville City Police Department handled 26,047 calls for service in 2024; 742 of those calls were mental health related. The Department provides guidance to personnel in the handling of calls for service involving mental health emergencies in General Order 5-25. The Mental Health Specialist augments the police response by providing on scene, clinical support and intervention.
The Rockville City Police Department and Montgomery County continue to work collaboratively to develop behavioral health intervention strategies. Through the course of this agreement, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services will continue to provide one merit employee licensed by the State of Maryland and maintained during employment as a Mental Health Specialist to the Rockville City Police Department. In addition, the contracted employee will continue to provide training for Rockville City Police Department personnel on best practices when responding to behavioral health incidents
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council previously approved this contract position in the FY 2022 budget.
Fiscal Impact
Montgomery County’s salary for the contract position is not to exceed $160,000. There is sufficient funding included in the FY 2025 and FY 2026 adopted operating budgets within the Office of the Chief of Police, for these contracted services.
Next Steps
Upon Mayor and Council approval, the City Manager will enter into a one-year agreement with Montgomery County to maintain the Mental Health Specialist within the Rockville City Police Department.
Attachments
ATTACHMENT 1 - Memorandum of Agreement for Use of a Professional Service Provider