Safety Coalition Res — File 210743

Proposing a Process to create the Somerville Community Safety Coalition (SCSC) WHEREAS, We have heard clearly a demand to reduce reliance on Somerville Police Department to respond to mental health and substance addiction related calls; and WHEREAS, Community based solutions for the safety of all Somerville community members is our primary goal; and WHEREAS, Addressing the root causes of violence, disenfranchisment, and discrimination are the best ways to reduce reliance on Policing; and WHEREAS, A Sequential Intercept Model can be a powerful tool for indentifying priority intercepts for community based safety responses rather than Police responses; and WHEREAS, The City had declared that the process of reimagining the Somerville Police Department would begin in October yet the job of Director of Social and Racial Justice was only posted in the week of October 12; and WHEREAS, An earnest process to completely transform our response to first responder services will take at least two years; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That this City Council supports the creation of a Somerville Community Safety Coalition Task Force to deploy Sequential Intercept Mapping to determine opportunities for diversion, alternative justice, and behavioral health interventions; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Council intends to support its creation by establishing staff positions as needed to swiftly implement the work of the Task Force and subsequent establishment of a Somerville Community Safety Coalition in alignment with its recommendations.