go-92.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS SUBJECT TEAM Unit CHIEF OF POLICE Signature on File Proudly Polici ng Since 1841 Nationally Accredited 1986 NUMBER ORIGINAL ISSUE CURRENT REVISION TOTAL PAGES 92 01/27/2025 N/A 8 AUTHORITY/RELATED REFERENCES COT TEAM Unit SOP FS Chapter 393, Developmental Disabilities FS 394.455, Definitions (Mental Health) FS 394.462, Transportation (Mental Health) FS 394.4625, Voluntary Admissions FS 394.463(1), Involuntary Examination Criteria FS 784.07, Assault or Battery of … Emergency Medical Care Providers General Order 6, Arrests and Alternatives to Arrest General Order 8, Mentally Ill Persons General Order 16, Digital Audio/Video Recording System General Order 30, Criminal Intelligence Protocols General Order 42, Impounding and Controlling of Property and Evidence General Order 59, Transporting and Booking Procedures General Order 71, Prearrest Delinquency Citation Program Leon County Behavioral Health Transportation Plan Mental Health Services Agreement OSB-7, TEAM Unit ACCREDITATION REFERENCES CALEA Chapters 1, 41, 70, 82 CFA Chapter 24 KEY WORD INDEX Mental Health Professional’s Responsibilities Procedure VI Operational Scope Procedure II Reports and Data Collection Procedure VIII Response Protocols Procedure III Team Officer Roles and Responsibilities Procedure V Team Unit Objectives Procedure I\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT Training Requirements Procedure VII Transport Protocols Procedure IV POLICY The TEAM Unit (Tallahassee Emergency Assessment Mobile Unit) is a multidisciplinary mental health co-response team that includes a Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) officer trained in Crisis Intervention Techniques (CIT) and a Mental Health Professional (MHP). This team provides a coordinated response to mental health crisis calls, emphasizing de-escalation, immediate support, and connection to appropriate resources while minimizing the involvement of emergency patrol units and judicial interventions. DEFINITIONS Authorized Professional: As defined in the Florida Mental Health Act, a physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatric nurse, mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, or clinical social worker. Axon Body Camera streaming service: A BWC live stream with two-way voice communication. Baker Act: The commonly used term referring to the statutory provisions of FS Chapter 394, Part I, the Florida Mental Health Act. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT): A nationwide program, originally based on the "Memphis Model" and adopted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for law enforcement personnel to receive specialized training in dealing with the mentally ill. Involuntary Examination: A statutorily approved mental health examination performed against the wishes of the person being examined. Licensed Mental Health Provider (LMHP): A behavioral health professional who holds a valid state license in disciplines such as: Clinical Social Work (LCSW), Mental Health Counseling (LMHC), or Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT). These professionals are qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with mental health conditions, provide crisis intervention, and deliver therapeutic services in clinical and community-based settings. In addition, they are able to initiate involuntary evaluations under Baker Act and Marchman Act. All of the above will be referred to as Mental Health Professionals (MHP) in this policy for simplicity. GENERAL ORDER 92 PAGE 2 of 8 TEAM UNIT JANUARY 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT Master Level Counselor: Mental health professionals that have a master’s degree in counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or other counseling related field. Master level counselors are able to assess and treat clients with mental health diagnosis, including providing crisis counseling and crisis assessment. Master level counselors do not hold licensure with the state and are prohibited from initiating either Baker Act or Marchman Act. They will be referred to as Mental Health Professionals (MHP) in this policy for simplicity. Mental Health Crisis: State of mind in which a person is unable to cope with and adjust to the recurrent stresses of everyday living in a functional, safe way. This term does not include a developmental disability as defined in FS Chapter 393, intoxication, or conditions manifested only by antisocial behavior or substance abuse. Mental Illness (Mentally Ill): Any ongoing health condition characterized by impairment of a person’s normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning. This term does not include a developmental disability as defined in FS Chapter 393, intoxication, or conditions manifested only by antisocial behavior or substance abuse. Person In Crisis: A person whose level of distress or mental health symptoms have exceeded the person's internal ability to manage his/her behavior or emotions. A crisis can be precipitated by any number of things, including an increase in the symptoms of mental illness despite treatment compliance; noncompliance with treatment, including a failure to take prescribed medications appropriately; or any other circumstance or event that causes the person to engage in erratic, disruptive or dangerous behavior that may be accompanied by impaired judgment. Protective Custody: The act of a law enforcement officer placing a person who has met certain criteria into custody in order to deliver the person to an authorized receiving facility for an involuntary examination. Receiving Facility: A public or private facility designated by the State of Florida to receive and hold or refer, as appropriate, involuntary patients under emergency conditions for mental health or substance abuse evaluation, and to provide treatment or transportation to the appropriate service provider. The Central Receiving Facility is located at the Apalachee Center for Human Services (ACHS). Per FS 394.455, a county jail is not a receiving facility. The Designated Receiving Facility partners include inpatient programs at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital BHC and HCA Behavioral Health. GENERAL ORDER 92 PAGE 3 of 8 TEAM UNIT JANUARY 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT TEAM Unit Officer: An officer with specialized knowledge and experience regarding law enforcement, intervention services, and Crisis Intervention. Officers assigned to the TEAM Unit are uniformed personnel whose responsibilities include crisis intervention and substance abuse. Voluntary Admission: The intentional act of a person willingly submitting to a mental health examination. PROCEDURES I. TEAM UNIT OBJECTIVES A. Develop an enhanced, multidisciplinary response to mental health- related calls. B. Reduce unnecessary emergency room transports by connecting individuals to appropriate services. C. Leverage community resources and partnerships to improve service coordination. D. De-escalate volatile situations through a team-based approach. E. Divert individuals from the judicial system and connect them to community support. F. Reduce dispatched calls to patrol units and alleviate strain on emergency responders. G. Collect data for evaluating the program's impact and efficiency. II. OPERATIONAL SCOPE A. The TEAM Unit operates with full time TPD TEAM Officers in collaboration with a Mental Health Professional (MHP). B. If a full time TEAM Officer is not available for a shift, the shift will be advertised in ODM for other qualified CIT certified Officers to fill the shift. While working in a TEAM Member capacity, Officers shall follow TEAM Unit General Order and SOP. C. TEAM Officer shall follow guidelines in General Order 8 – Mentally Ill Persons. GENERAL ORDER 92 PAGE 4 of 8 TEAM UNIT JANUARY 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 5 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT D. The TEAM Unit responds to mental health crises where the subject: 1. May pose a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness or substance use. 2