Policy Text
Policy
422Fremont Police Department
Mobile Evaluation Team (MET)
422.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines for the development and structure of the Mobile Evaluation Team
(MET).
422.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Fremont Police Department to maintain a specialized team to provide an
enhanced level of service to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis with both acute and
long-term assistance, to be a resource to family members of individuals in crisis, and to collaborate
with other mental health and social service providers to link those suffering from mental health
crisis with appropriate services.
The Mobile Evaluation Team (MET) is a field-based team that provides comprehensive and
compassionate services to Fremont's most vulnerable populations, including community members
experiencing homelessness and community members with mental illness. MET provides crisis
intervention and de-escalation, guidance and encouragement, and connects community members
needing assistance with local mental health and homeless service providers. MET works to
support community members engaged in services to pursue healthy outcomes.
422.3 PRIVACY
Protected Health Information (PHI) shared between the Fremont Police Department and other
service providers will be in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines, including HIPAA.
422.4 MET STRUCTURE
The Mobile Evaluation Team (MET) will be assigned to the Patrol Division and will be supervised
by a MET Sergeant. MET will follow the standard chain of command for fieldwork and report
directly to the assigned Lieutenant for the overall management of the program. MET will have two
(2) police officers, one (1) Community Service Officer (CSO), and one (1) mental health clinician
assigned full-time to the team. MET is an Administrative Assignment, and the selection of the MET
Sergeant, MET Officers, and MET CSO will be in accordance with the Specialty Assignments
Policy. The mental health clinician will be assigned through cooperation with the City of Fremont
Human Services Department. MET officers and the MET CSO will not count towards Patrol Shift
Minimums. MET will collaborate with mental health and homeless service providers in support of
this policy.
422.5 MET DEPLOYMENT
Unless circumstances dictate, the MET Sergeant, MET Officers, and MET CSO will deploy in the
field in full police uniform and in assigned Fremont Police vehicles. Duty days and/or duty hours
may be periodically adjusted to achieve the needs of the team and/or the Department.
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Mobile Evaluation Team (MET)
422.5.1 GUIDELINES FOR MET FIELD RESPONSE
MET should be deployed to calls for service involving an individual experiencing a mental health
crisis, such as 5150 W&I calls and/or suicidal subjects, and calls for service involving homeless
community members. MET may also be deployed to calls for service where the knowledge and/
or experience of the MET Officer and/or assigned mental health professional would be beneficial.
MET may also self-deploy to calls for service as appropriate.
(a)MET members will notify the communications center when they are available for field
deployment and will monitor the police radio. Communications will dispatch available
MET teams to appropriate calls for service as a cover unit.
(b)MET generally should assume investigative responsibility in calls for service in which
the only issue to be determined is whether the individual is suffering from a mental
health crisis.
(c)In calls for service in which there is a criminal violation in addition to a potential mental
health issue, MET will work with the primary officer towards a resolution of the mental
health issue. The primary Patrol officer shall maintain investigative responsibility for
the criminal investigation.
(d)Once the situation has stabilized and the MET officer has determined that additional
police resources are no longer needed, the Patrol officer(s) should return to "In-
Service" status.
(e)Nothing in this policy shall preclude the MET officer from responding to other calls for
service of a critical nature.
422.5.2 GUIDELINES FOR MET RESPONSE
The goal of the MET response is to ensure that persons identified as in need of mental health
care services and/or their family members are afforded the appropriate services, recognizing that
participation in and acceptance of such services is voluntary.
(a)The MET Sergeant or his/her designee will review all 5150 reports and MET referrals
for possible follow-up. In determining the suitability and priority of a response, the MET
Sergeant may consider the following:
1.The subject's mental health history;
2.The subject's criminal history;
3.If the subject resides in the MET catchment area; and
4.The subject's stated willingness to accept services
(b)If a response is warranted, the MET Sergeant or his/her designee will assign a MET
officer to follow up.
(c)If additional services are not wanted or are deemed inappropriate at the time of the
follow-up contact, the MET officer should provide material to the contacted person(s)
on how to access additional services or resources at a later time.
(d)All assigned follow-up efforts will be documented via an ARS report or supplemental
report.
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Mobile Evaluation Team (MET)
422.6 MET OFFICER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following is a list of duties and responsibilities for the officers assigned to MET. This list is not
comprehensive but should serve as a general guide.
(a)Work with a licensed mental health clin