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OFFICE OF THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
TODD SPITZER
December 14, 2020
The Honorable Harry Sidhu
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Blvd., 7th floor
Anaheim, CA 92805
Dear Mayor Sidhu and City Councilmembers,
I am writing to support Item 19 on the December 15, 2020 Anaheim City Council Agenda to create the Community
Care Response Team Pilot Program.
y;
homelessness and mental health issues rank among the highest concerns for the public and for our office. Our
homeless population is especially vulnerable because they often experience mental health and substance abuse
issues in addition to other socio-economic challenges.
The creation of the Community Care Response Team outreach efforts will allow the City of Anaheim and community
partners to provide life-changing resources to those in need. And it will function as a critical first step in what I hope
is to expanding these services to address the larger continuum of mental health calls beyond the homeless
population.
The mere presence of law enforcement can at times produce anxiety or panic within people that suffer from mental
health issues and that can result in deadly consequences. Law enforcement personnel are not typically trained to
assess the psychological state or emotional well-being of people with mental health issues or those experiencing a
psychiatric event. However, law enforcement officers are often forced to address precarious situations involving
mental health issues when the stakes are at their highest.
As the elected District Attorney, I am responsible for making the ultimate decision on whether a law enforcement
officer is charged with a crime in connection with a custodial death or an officer-involved shooting. I want to do
what I can to avoid unnecessary deadly confrontations, especially when alternatives are available.
It is in the interest of the individual and in the interest of the public to do what we can to prevent situation from
escalating to an officer-involved shooting or custodial death.
This pilot program continues to showcase the City of Anaheim and the Anaheim Police Department as leaders in the
community in handling mental health issues and presenting viable alternatives that we must pilot.
WEB PAGE: http://orangecountyda.org/
MAIN OFFICENORTH OFFICEWEST OFFICE HARBOR OFFICEJUVENILE OFFICECENTRAL OFFICE
401 CIVIC CENTER DR W 1275 N. BERKELEY AVE. 8141 13 TH STREET 4601 JAMBOREE RD. 341 CITY DRIVE SOUTH 401 CIVIC CENTER DR. W
P.O. BOX 808 FULLERTON, CA 92832 WESTMINSTER, CA 92683 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 ORANGE, CA 92868 P.O. BOX 808
SANTA ANA, CA 92701 (714) 773-4480 (714) 896-7261 (949) 476-4650 (714) 935-7624 SANTA ANA, CA 92701
(714) 834-3600 (714) 834-3952
When I was attending to law school, I lived with my uncle, Rick, and my cousin, Patsy, who is a paranoid
schizophrenic. I witnessed first-hand the devastation and pain mental illness can cause to an individual and to a
family. It is heartbreaking.
When I was a reserve police officer in Los Angeles, I took people to the Weingart Center to dry out and get
assistance with the obstacles they were facing whether it was mental health, addiction, homelessness, or a
combination and get on the path to a fulfilling life.
We need programs like this as prosecutors as community protectors to break the cycle of crime and recidivism
for those who we see can change their lifestyle and become productive citizens.
When we help people escape the cycle of the criminal justice system and address the underlying issues we are
helping create fulfilling lives and safer communities.
Dispatching social workers, mental health clinicians, and nurse practitioners in civilian clothes to be the first point
of contact to assess the needs of people experiencing mental health issues will help resolve the aforementioned
and help those in need obtain necessities such as shelter, transportation, food, case management services, and
most importantly medical care. Having law enforcement on standby at a reasonable distance will also help to ensure
the safety of the public and the response team if a situation suddenly escalates.
I want to thank Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros, Community & Economic Development Director John
Woodhead, Homeless Liaison Sandra Sagert, and the entire City of Anaheim for its leadership in addressing the
mental health needs of our community.
I wish you success on an extraordinary and critical program that looks to change the lives of some of your most
vulnerable residents in a positive way and provide those in need with necessities that will ultimately allow them an
opportunity to thrive.
Respectfully,
Todd Spitzer
District Attorney
Cc: City of Anaheim Council Member Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Faessel, Fifth District
City of Anaheim Council Member Jose Diaz, First District
City of Anaheim Council Member Jordan Brandman, Second District
City of Anaheim Council Member Jose F. Moreno, Third District
City of Anaheim Council Member Avelino Valencia, Fourth District
City of Anaheim Council Member Trevor O'Neil, Sixth District
City of Anaheim City Manager James Vanderpool
City of Anaheim Chief of Police Jorge Cisneros
City of Anaheim Community & Economic Development Director John Woodhead
City of Anaheim Community Preservation & Licensing Manager Sandra Sagert
WEB PAGE: http://orangecountyda.org/
MAIN OFFICENORTH OFFICEWEST OFFICE HARBOR OFFICEJUVENILE OFFICECENTRAL OFFICE
401 CIVIC CENTER DR W 1275 N. BERKELEY AVE. 8141 13 TH STREET 4601 JAMBOREE RD. 341 CITY DRIVE SOUTH 401 CIVIC CENTER DR. W
P.O. BOX 808 FULLERTON, CA 92832 WESTMINSTER, CA 92683 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 ORANGE, CA 92868 P.O. BOX 808
SANTA ANA, CA 92701 (714) 773-4480 (714) 896-7261 (949) 476-4650 (714) 935-7624 SANTA ANA, CA 92701
(714) 834-3600 (714) 834-3952
Public Comment
From:Arevalos, Luis <Luis.Arevalos@da.ocgov.com>
Sent:Tuesday, December 15, 2020 10:35 AM
Subject:Letter from District Attorney Todd Spitzer in Support of the Community Care
Response Team (CCRT) Pilot Program
Attachments:Letter in Support of Anaheims Community Care Response Team 12.14.2020.pdf
Good Morning,
Please see the enclosed letter by District Attorney Todd Spitzer to Mayor Harry Sidhu and City Councilmembers in
support of the Community Care Response Team (CCRT) Pilot Program that will be featured today during your city council
meeting. We appreciate your hard work and all that you do, happy holidays!
Regards,
LUIS AREVALOS
Government Affairs
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY-PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR
COUNTY OF ORANGE
300 N FLOWER ST, 8TH FL, STE 803 – Office# 827
SANTA ANA CA 92703-5001
Direct: (714) 834-6184
DA Main: (714) 834-3600
PA Main: (714) 834-6578
Fax: (714) 973-3318
Email: luis.arevalos@da.ocgov.com
Mailing Address: PO BOX 808, SANTA ANA, CA 92702-0808
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