Olympia to expand its Crisis Response Unit and Familiar Faces program

A year after George Floyd’s death at the hands of the police, the Olympia Police Department (OPD) shared its plans to expand its Crisis Response Unit (CRU), and its Familiar Faces program to assist vulnerable residents during the general government committee meeting yesterday

Even before calls to defund the police began, the Olympia Police Department had started tapping into alternative approaches to handling crises. With the help of social workers, the OPD launched the CRU and the Familiar Faces program to provide a more sympathetic approach to vulnerable individuals.

The CRU program deploys social workers and other unarmed individuals to defuse the crisis. The staff does this by helping identify a person’s specific needs, especially those suffering from substance abuse or mental health disorders. Other services include crisis counseling, conflict resolution, housing referral assistance, substance abuse referrals and some transportation services.

On the other hand, the Familiar Faces program targets specific individuals experiencing complex health and behavioral problems. Members of the Olympia Police Department’s Walking Patrol identifies individuals who are in need. The staff would then conduct persistent contact to encourage them to get help and resources.

To provide better service for its clients, the OPD works with the Community Care Center to provide further assistance. The Community Care Center is a partnership of regional social services and healthcare providers, led by Providence Health & Services, located at the corner of State Ave. and Franklin St. in downtown Olympia.

Changes to the Community Care Center

Assistant city manager Keith Stahley explained that that the providers are planning to change the community care center model. Stahley explained that instead of having an open space where people could come into rest or have a cup of coffee, the center would assist the crisis response unit. He shared that they plan to make it a space where people in need, particularly those under the care of the CRU, can have a place to call home.

In line with this, the center wants to ensure that its facilities can accommodate these changes. Stahley also shared that they are looking into redesigning certain facilities, such as the showers, to provide much-needed hygiene services. The assistant city manager said that they would implement these changes by the end of summer.

In addition, the police department has partnered with Providence St. Peter Hospital to assign a nurse who can provide medical assistance to individuals who are under the care of the CRU. As of the moment, the Crisis Unit can only provide first-aid or nonmedical services.

Aside from ensuring that individuals get the help they need, the Olympia Police Department also prepares a monthly report that reviews any complaints against its officers. Assistant City Manager Debbie Sullivan explained that the police auditor received four use-of-force reports for April,  all of which had undergone multi-level review. She confirmed that the police officers’ actions were all within the policy.

Keith Whiteman, one of the peer navigators for Familiar Faces shared that the most satisfying part of his job is to see a person go from living without an I.D. or even a home to someone who can secure a job and health insurance within a matter of six to 12 months.