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To request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be established a work group including certain employees of the City and a member of the City Council to develop a plan and recommendations for the implementation of a “Marcus Alert” program by October 1, 2020.
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WHEREAS, according to the City of Richmond Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney report entitled “Use of Force Investigation and Analysis, Interstate 95 Shooting - May 14, 2018” (hereinafter, the “report”), on May 14, 2018, Marcus-David Peters was shot and killed by Officer Michael Nyantakyi of the City’s Department of Police; and
WHEREAS, according to the report, Marcus-David Peters, at the time of his death, was “behaving quite erratically” and was in an “altered mental state;” and
WHEREAS, according to the report, on the day of the incident and after ignoring Officer Michael Nyantakyi’s commands, Marcus-David Peters exhibited “aggressive” behavior and engaged in a physical altercation with Officer Michael Nyantakyi that ended when Officer Michael Nyantakyi fired at least two shots from his firearm, ultimately killing Marcus-David Peters in the process;
WHEREAS, the Council believes that the killing of Marcus-David Peters may have been prevented if mental health professionals were present at the scene of the incident to deescalate the situation; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the City of Richmond that the Council request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be established a work group including certain employees of the City and a member of the Council to develop a plan and recommendations for the implementation of a “Marcus Alert” program, in honor of Marcus-David Peters, designed to coordinate the emergency response of the Department of Police with mental health professionals to deescalate situations involving individuals with suspected or confirmed mental health issues;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That the Council hereby requests that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be established a work group including certain employees of the City and a member of the Council to develop a plan and recommendations for the implementation of a “Marcus Alert” program, in honor of Marcus-David Peters, designed to coordinate the emergency response of the Department of Police with mental health professionals to deescalate situations involving individuals with suspected or confirmed mental health issues.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the work group for which this resolution calls is requested to consist of the following to be selected solely by the Chief Administrative Officer:
1. One or more employees of the Department of Police.
2. One or more employees of the Department of Social Services.
3. One or more employees of the Department of Emergency Communications.
4. A member of the Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the work group shall, with the advice and comment of mental health professionals, including, but not limited to, mental health professionals employed by the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, develop a plan and recommendations for the implementation of a “Marcus Alert” program and present such plan and recommendations to the Council by no later than October 1, 2020.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the work group, in developing its plan and recommendations, shall, at a minimum, consider the following:
1. The manner in which local resources may be coordinated with in-patient and out-patient mental health facilities.
2. Additional or continued training for employees of the Department of Police concerning that Department’s response to emergency calls involving individuals with suspected or confirmed mental health issues.
3. Additional or continued training for employees of the Department of Emergency Communications concerning the de-escalation of situations involving individuals with suspected or confirmed mental health issues and when to refer emergency calls to mental health responders.
4. Additional or continued training for employees of the Department of Social Services concerning any provision of services to individuals with suspected or confirmed mental health issues or to the family members of such individuals.
5. With the advice and comment of the Office of the City Attorney, how the City may lawfully restructure its emergency response procedures.
6. Sources of state funding available to the Department of Social Services, or other City agencies, for the implementation of the “Marcus Alert” program.
7. The applicability of the “Marcus Alert” program to the developmentally disabled community.
8. The appropriate model for the “Marcus Alert” program based on the City’s available resources, funding, and limitations.