CORAL SPRINGS, FL – In Coral Springs, there’s been a lot of debate this summer in the wake of the George Floyd killing on who is best capable to respond to mental health emergencies.

Should police officers continue to do that work? Or should the responsibility be given to mental health counselors and social workers?

Or should it be a combination of all of them?

TAPinto Coral Springs asked candidates in Coral Springs’ City Commission races in the Nov. 3 election to offer their thoughts on the issue.

Many candidates said they favored studying this further and determining if there’s really a need to change police roles regarding mental health responses.

Others said the city is already looking into that issue, and they would support considering a program such as CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) which is based in Eugene, Ore. There, a team of crisis workers responds to many 911 calls related to mental health, homelessness, substance abuse, and threats of suicide – often without the assistance of police officers. 

Here is how the contenders for Seat #3 and Seat #5 races responded.

Abel Pena (Seat #3) 

“First,  you must perform an organizational assessment to obtain valid information. In addition, consider if this is a department that should be part of the police department.”

Andy Kasten (Seat #3)

“I don’t have enough information to give a concrete answer, however, according to our chief (Clyde Parry) only about .05% of their calls including “domestic violence” responses involve “mental health” issues.  That doesn’t seem like a very high percentage.  I would like to take a closer look at this to make sure we do have enough trained professionals if the numbers warranted it.”

Joe Morera (Seat #3)

“Yes, 100%. Issues of mental health are more prevalent in our community than most people are aware. Coordinating those efforts with local mental health organizations would be a great benefit for our entire community. Chief Parry is already looking into the CAHOOTS program currently used in Oregon. I think this would be an enhancement to the services we currently offer.”

Noor Fawzy (Seat #3)

“It depends. If you mean that the city should extend mental health services to our police officers to improve their psychological health to make them less prone to respond to incidents with unnecessary force, I fully support that.

If you mean that the city should staff mental health professionals to serve in an advisory capacity to advise and collaborate with the police on how to properly respond to incidents involving persons with mental health conditions, I fully support that.

But if you are suggesting mental health services as an alternative to policing where mental health professionals would take the role of the police in responding to incidents where there is a likelihood of violence, I cannot support that, and I say that in the interest of the safety of our mental health professionals and public safety generally.”

Randal Cutter (Seat #3)

“I have been working with the mayor’s private initiative, the Mental Wellness Networking Alliance, since he initiated it last year. In addition, as a trained counselor, I am extremely aware of the mental health needs of our city, and as a former police chaplain, I am also aware of the fact that there are times that our police officers must respond to situations where mental health is a presenting issue.

However, while I am in favor of using the many public and private resources which our city and our police department have available to them for the relatively few times that mental health is a presenting issue, I would not be in favor of diverting resources from the police department’s mission to keep our community safe in order to provide such services, especially if those services would reduce the number of officers on the road, their training, or the levels of equipment that they use.”

Nancy Metayer (Seat #3)

“Yes, the Coral Springs Police Department should add more mental health services. Our officers are often called to respond to mental health emergencies and to help individuals struggling with homelessness, drug dependence, and other mental health problems. I recommend the Coral Springs Police Department establish a Mental Health Unit.”

Cathy Remy (Seat #5)

“Mental health services can provide added benefits to law enforcement conflict resolution. Police training on dealing with individuals with mental health conditions can likely minimize unnecessary force and deter arrest. 

Depending on the call, the level of threat will need to be assessed when determining how to intervene.  The extent to which a mental health response team should be added to Coral Springs Police Department should be implemented with the partnership of our officers and the community.”

Coral Springs Vice Mayor Joy Carter (Seat #5)

Is there ever ENOUGH? CSPD, like the commission, is open to better programming for the public’s mental health needs and of course the police officers in their handling of these mental health cases. Currently, the chief is looking into the successful, “Cahoots” program in Oregon, where legal or at risk for violence is not an issue, a counselor is sent to the call.”

Read previous articles in our series exploring where Coral Springs City Commission candidates stand on local issues:

What Can Coral Springs Do To Reduce Global Warming? A Lot, Said Candidates in Coral Springs Election

Is Coral Springs Doing Enough To Reduce Spread of COVID-19? Candidates in City Election Weigh In.

Allowing Protests. Creating Task Force. Has Coral Springs Done Enough To Address Police Brutality Debate?

Coral Springs Election Candidates Debate Ideas Related to “Defunding” Police

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