The big picture
At a Jan. 7 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved the acceptance of a $171,920 crisis intervention grant from the Office of the Governor for two specialty, unmarked vehicles to use for the police department’s Crisis Intervention Team.
The grants come after the city saw an uptick in the number of mental health, drug overdose and wellness-related calls from 2022 to 2024, said Pedro Lara, assistant chief for the Sugar Land Police Department.
Community Impact reached out to the Sugar Land Police Department for mental health call data, but it was not returned by press time.
Why it matters
The city’s Crisis Intervention Team, launched in May 2023, is responsible for providing services to those experiencing mental health crises, according to agenda documents. The team includes seven sworn crisis intervention officers and an administrator.
The unmarked vehicles aim to reduce anxiety of citizens experiencing a mental health crisis when interacting with officers, Lara said.
“Unmarked vehicles are a vital tool for law enforcement in handling mental health crises, ensuring compliance with the law, reducing stigma, and enhancing safety and dignity for all involved,” he said.
Going forward
The vehicles will be ordered during the first quarter of 2025, but department staff isn’t sure when they will be delivered, Lara said.
What else?
City Council also accepted the $14,600 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant from the Office of the Governor's Criminal Justice Division for PowerLine, a wellness software for city officers.
Lara said the software aims to:
- Provide anonymous support
- Facilitate peer connections
- Outline wellness needs for the department
