A major topic at the upcoming City Council meeting is how Austin addresses mental health emergencies. The resolution by Council Member Chito Vela aims to gather insights on how the city manages 911 and 311 calls relating to mental health.
This report will explore both police and non-police responses. It’s expected to be ready by the end of April, in time for the city to consider it during the 2026 budget discussions.
Vela pointed out that there is unusually wide agreement among various community groups, including police and mental health professionals, about the need for a different approach. He mentioned how the Officer Taylor case brought attention to the difficulties of handling mental health crises with traditional police methods. “Having trained professionals respond to these calls can ensure better care for individuals in crisis,” he said.
The resolution seeks to build on current initiatives like the Downtown Austin Community Court and the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team. These programs aim for a more comprehensive view of public safety, emphasizing mental health care.
The report will look into data from the past few years about how mental health-related calls are handled. It will analyze how often these calls could be diverted to mental health experts without police involvement and whether joint responses involving police and crisis teams were effective. It will also look at police hours spent on mental health cases.
One significant aspect of the report will be comparing the outcomes when police or mental health workers were involved. This includes information about APD’s training related to mental health. The aim is to better understand how different teams manage these situations.
Additionally, the report will include recommendations on how to enhance the city’s mental health responses and consider potential funding sources.
Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes proposed an amendment to gather more data on response times and caller demographics. This would provide a deeper understanding of recurring needs in the community and how Austin’s strategies stack up against those from other cities.
Fuentes emphasized the importance of using proven models to improve public safety. “A smart, compassionate approach can help ensure all residents receive the care they deserve,” she stated.
The City Council is expected to approve the resolution, along with Fuentes’ amendment, on Thursday.
Photo made available through a Creative Commons license.
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Source linkAustin City Council,Austin Police Department
