LFP City Council to consider authorization of RADAR program

City Hall, Lake Forest Park
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

City of Lake Forest Park City Council regular meeting Thursday, April 25, 2019, 7:00pm, City Hall Council Chambers 17425 Ballinger Way NE

On the agenda:

Ordinances and Resolutions (documents linked to the agenda here)

1. Resolution 1734/Authorizing Mayor to Sign Interlocal Agreement for the North Sound RADAR Navigator Program
2. Ordinance 1192/Authorizing the Police Department to Staff Its Reserve Officer Program through the 2019-2020 Biennium 
3. Ordinance 1193/Amending the Public Works Contract Fund 2019-2020 Budget, Pursuant to the Financial Closeout of the Kenmore Contract and Closing the Fund

The North Sound RADAR Navigator Program enables a group of municipalities partnering to provide its members with an economical mechanism for the efficient administration and coordination of a program for Response Awareness, De-escalation and Referral (“RADAR”) to be used in the event of behavioral health crises.

Over the past decade, police agencies have changed the way they respond to mental health related calls for service. Police officers no longer can just arrive at a scene, arrest a person in mental health crisis, then move onto the next call. Rather, police officers are expected to de-escalate the situation, provide real-time services to those in crisis, and conduct follow-up on the affected parties. This is a huge shift in the way policing has been conducted in the past.

The goals of the Program are to strengthen community/police partnerships, to increase the connection of at-risk individuals with effective behavioral health services and treatments, and to enhance community and first responder safety by reducing the potential for police use of physical force.

The Program endeavors to provide shared resources for mental health professionals(MHP) to partner with law enforcement to connect at-risk individuals to the proper services. 

The Program will provide law enforcement officers with response plans designed to assist in the field with de-escalation and crisis intervention response. 

The Program seeks to protect the public peace, health, and safety; to preserve lives and property; and to ensure the safety of Lake Forest Park residents.

The current partners include the following cities, in addition to Lake Forest Park: Shoreline, Kenmore, Bothell, and Kirkland. 

The program has received funds from a Federal Department of Justice Grant, a Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Grant, and a large endowment from King County. 

Within weeks, a full-time Program Coordinator will be brought on to grow the Program. The vision will be to have 6-8 part-time MHP’s shared among member Cities.