Coffee w/ a Cop Neighborhood Watch Meeting on MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES!

15 October 2024, Third Tuesday of the Month

10:30AM, Joselito's Mexican Restaurant in Tujunga

This really was TWO meetings, but this write-up only covers the first. Stand by for a report on the second half, our regular stats and police matters. 29 attended, including LAPD officers!

Tujunga SLO Gloria Caloca opened and handed the meeting to:

► Officer Percy Hernandez, [email protected] of LAPD's Mental Evaluation Unit (MEU). He was aided by a clinician and an officer.

☼ LA's complex system of mental health agencies! ☼

They talk people down from threatened violence and suicides. They define whether to call for an ambulance, family members, use of force, another agency, or request a "5150" (72-hour involuntary drugged commitment).

They will sort things out and refer the person to  one or more of LA's MANY available mental health care services depending on functionality, age, and circumstances!

All this takes these calls and follow-ups off of patrolling officers and deputies, so we have more "straps on the street" to deal with actual crimes.

► THE BIG NEWS!

WITHOUT INVOLVING LAPD, RESIDENTS  CAN DIRECTLY REPORT AND GET HELP FOR PEOPLE EXHIBITING MENTAL PROBLEMS!

IN A CRISIS, CALL COUNTY's "HOME Team": 800.854.7771 If there's immediate danger, call 911.

Describe the situation ACCURATELY, without exaggeration! Is the person a danger to others? To themselves? See and SAVE the accompanying graphic!

Be advised: Except for emergencies, these processes will take time and many visits— maybe dozens—as we are all protected against psychiatric abuse by layers of City, County, State & federal laws.

Know that MEU has just 85 officers + 50 clinicians to cover Los Angeles' 500 square miles, 24/7/365! So they're slammed. If you can, plan ahead.

You can also search for LA Dept of Mental Health.

► FOR PROBLEMS with UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS, search for LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Agency). The Results page gives you applicable phone numbers.

To report encampments, download the MYLA311 app to your smartphone, and use it to report ANY city matter. The app automatically sorts which agency gets each complaint—a HUGE timesaver.

Stay tuned here for the upcoming report on crime stats and prevention!