S20 21-0194 Subject: Amending Fire Department Duties To Include Civilian Crisis Response
From: Councilmember Kalb And Council President Fortunato Bas
Recommendation: Adopt A Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.29 Of Oakland Municipal Code, Which Sets Forth The Form Of Organization Through Which The Functions Of The City Under The City Administrator's Jurisdiction Are Administered, To Provide That The Functions And Duties Of The Mobile Assistance Community Responders Program And Any Civilian Crisis Response Program Shall Be Administered By The Fire Department
MACRO is a much needed program and putting it under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department is a smart idea. The Oakland FD is among the most trusted organizations in the city, and already have to deal with incredibly stressful situations regularly. They are the right department to take up the task of dealing with the mental health crises of our most vulnerable citizens.
Oakland needs MACRO now. Police should not be the first responders for mental health crises, as OPD has proven themselves to be inadequate in responding to such crises. Joshua Pawlik was murdered by OPD on March 11, 2018. Four officers shot him more than 20 times while he was sleeping in West Oakland. Joshua was homeless, struggling with mental health issues and just beginning to wake up when OPD murdered him. He was 32 years old. OPD’s investigation into his murder was bogus. A
federal court-appointed monitor rejected the findings of internal investigations, calling them “deficient” and then-Police Chief Anne
Kirkpatrick’s oversight “disappointing and myopic.” There is no reason to stall this important life saving program, as community programs like the Anti-Police Terror Project's Mental Health First (MH First) are available to train workers.
MACRO is a much needed program and putting it under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department is a smart idea. The Oakland FD is among the most trusted organizations in the city, and already have to deal with incredibly stressful situations regularly. They are the right department to take up the task of dealing with the mental health crises of our most vulnerable citizens.
Oakland needs MACRO now. Police should not be the first responders for mental health crises, as OPD has proven themselves to be inadequate in responding to such crises. Joshua Pawlik was murdered by OPD on March 11, 2018. Four officers shot him more than 20 times while he was sleeping in West Oakland. Joshua was homeless, struggling with mental health issues and just beginning to wake up when OPD murdered him. He was 32 years old. OPD’s investigation into his murder was bogus. A
federal court-appointed monitor rejected the findings of internal investigations, calling them “deficient” and then-Police Chief Anne
Kirkpatrick’s oversight “disappointing and myopic.” There is no reason to stall this important life saving program, as community programs like the Anti-Police Terror Project's Mental Health First (MH First) are available to train workers.