Ventura County Grand Jury • 2001-2002

Final Report 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Review of Less that Lethal Force by Law Enforcement Agencies

12 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 10 findings

F1
Since August 3, 1992, thirty-two (32) suspects have been fatally wounded by police gunfi re in Ventura County. At least seventeen (17) of those shootings involved the mentally ill. (See Appendix)
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code provides for peace offi cers to take into custody individuals who as a result of a mental disorder pose a threat to others or themselves. They must be taken to an approved mental health facility and remain for a 72 hour period for treatment and evaluation.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The Grand Jury became aware of the “Memphis Plan” which was devel- oped and implemented by the community and the police department in Memphis, Tennessee. 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The “Memphis Plan” calls for the formation of Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) of police offi cers and mental health providers specifi cally trained to respond to situations involving the mentally ill.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Under the “Memphis Plan” police offi cers are taught techniques for de- escalating a crisis situation and how to increase their personal profi ciency in non-violent crisis intervention techniques.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The “Memphis Plan” deems it critical that offi cers take a mentally ill person to a place of safety that is not a standard lock-up or jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Cities such as Seattle, Washington; San Jose, California; and Albuquerque, New Mexico have developed and implemented their own plans based on the “Memphis Plan.”
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The Ventura County Sheriff and Police Chiefs’ Association in conjunction with the Ventura County Mental Health Department has developed a 40 hour Crisis Intervention Training Academy based on the “Memphis Plan.”
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
Each police agency within Ventura County should determine how many CIT offi cers are needed to adequately serve their jurisdiction. (C-1, C-2, C- 3, C-4, C-5, C-7, C-8, C-9, C-10)
R2
The offi cers needed to adequately serve each jurisdiction should receive 40 hours of training at the CIT Academy. This training should be completed
R3
A refresher course should be implemented as part of the Police Offi cers Supplemental Training.
R4
Train all dispatchers and/or call takers to have increased awareness of known or suspected mentally ill persons and to respond appropriately to such calls. (C-6, C-7) Commendations The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department; the Police Departments of Oxnard, Ventura, Simi Valley, Port Hueneme, and Santa Paula; and the Ventura County Mental Health Department are commended for developing and implementing the CIT Academy. Responses Required Ventura County Sheriff’s Academy (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) Ventura County Sheriff (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) Oxnard Police Department (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) Port Hueneme Police Department (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) Santa Paula Police Department (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) Simi Valley Police Department (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) Ventura Police Department (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report Table 1 Fatal Shooting in Ventura County by Law Enforcement Offi cers 1992-2001 NUMBER DATE NAME AGENCY MENTAL ILLNESS* 1. 8/3/92 James Graham Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 2. 10/2/92 Donald Scott Los Angeles Sheriff Dept. No 3. 1/7/93 Steven Gutierrez Ventura Co. Sheriff Dept. No 4. 10/1/93 Nicholas Partee Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 5. 11/11/93 Santos Arias Port Hueneme Police Dept. No 6. 12/2/93 Alan Winterbourne Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 7. 4/25/94 Alfonso Bravo Oxnard Police Dept. No 8. 4/29/95 James Zendejas Ventura Police Dept. No 9. 5/21/95 Ernesto Garcia Ventura Police Dept. Yes 10. 6/27/95 David Soly Los Angeles Police Dept. No 11. 8/29/95 Robert Sterling Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 12. 3/13/96 James Jensen Oxnard Police Dept. No 13. 1/13/97 Larry Pankey Oxnard Police Dept. No 14. 1/26/97 Jack Sexton Ventura Co. Sheriff Dept. No 15. 6/14/97 William Ramos Ventura Police Dept. Yes 16. 1/6/98 Albert Flores Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 17. 3/25/98 Francis Brazenor Ventura Co. Sheriff Dept. Yes 18. 4/18/98 Jason Hayley Ventura Police Dept. No 19. 5/24/98 Derek Myers Ventura Co. Sheriff Dept. Yes 20. 9/9/98 Nicholas Nelson Ventura Police Dept. Yes 21. 9/22/98 Han Huynh Ventura Sheriff Dept. Yes 22. 12/4/98 Roland Bourdeau (Sheehan) Ventura Police Dept. No 23. 1/18/99 Steven Bayer Simi Valley Police Dept. Yes 24. 10/1/00 Jonathan Baker Ventura Police Dept. Yes 25. 1/10/01 Richard Lopez Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 26. 1/18/01 Charles Valdez Oxnard Police Dept. No 27. 5/7/01 Rutilio Castillo Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 28. 5/12/01 Alfonso Delgado Ventura Police Dept. No 29. 6/9/01 Beau Blain Los Angeles Police Dept. Yes 30. 7/13/01 Larry Brown Oxnard Police Dept. No 31. 8/24/01 Robert Jones Oxnard Police Dept. Yes 32. 10/13/01 Thomas Patton Ventura Sheriff Dept. Yes * Determined by the Ventura County District Attorney. Not to be condsidered medically accurate. Final Report 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Response 1 - City of Port Hueneme 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report Response 2 - City of San Buenaventura Final Report 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Response 3 - Ventura County Sheriff’s Department 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report Response 3 - Ventura County Sheriff’s Department (continued) Final Report 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Response 4 - City of Oxnard 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report Response 4 - City of Oxnard (continued) Final Report 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Response 5 - City of Simi Valley 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury Final Report Response 5 - City of Simi Valley (continued)
F9
The Ventura County Mental Health Department has personnel trained to back up police offi cers in stand-off crisis situations.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
All of the Ventura County law enforcement agencies are sending line and support personnel to the CIT Academy. The fi rst class graduated on December 6, 2001. Conclusions C-1. The “Memphis Plan” has proved successful in de-escalating crisis situations and increasing police profi ciency in non-violent crisis intervention tech- niques. (F-4, F-5, F-6) C-2. Police offi cers are not adequately prepared to deal with the mentally ill (5150 subjects). (F-1, F-2) C-3. Police offi cers should be trained to increase their ability to recognize situa- tions where mentally ill (5150 subjects) are involved. (F-1, F-2) C-4. Police offi cers should be trained to recognize and understand various forms of mental illness. (F-1, F-2) C-5. Police offi cers need to increase their understanding of how a person with a mental illness will respond to different approaches. (F-1, F-2) C-6. Indications are that 5150 situations will increase due to the decrease of mental health care facilities. (F-1, F-2) C-7. Since the CIT Academy is new to Ventura County, emergency dispatchers and/or call takers need increased training to recognize calls from or about known or suspected mentally ill persons so that they can dispatch CIT offi cers as the fi rst responders. (F-8, F10) C-8. A CIT program is not the answer for all police involvement with the men- tally ill, but a beginning for necessary adjustments that law enforcement must make from traditional police responses. (F-7, F-8, F-10) Final Report 2001-2002 Ventura County Grand Jury C-9. A CIT program will decrease the number of police shootings. Lives of citizens and police offi cers will as a consequence be saved. (F-4, F-5, F-6,
No recommendations for this finding

Conclusions 2

Commendations 1

No Responses Found 6

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Oxnard City
Port Hueneme City
San Buenaventura City
Santa Paula City
Simi Valley City
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