Township Council Meeting — Packet

179-26 Formatted: Right MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR CO- RESPONDER PROGRAM BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES OF ESSEX AND MORRIS COUNTIES This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is hereby entered into between the Township of West Orange Police Department (“WOPD”) and the Mental Health Association of Deleted: Associates Essex and Morris Counties (“MHA”) for implementation of a co-responder program which Deleted: EM provides critical services to the community for de-escalation, response, treatment, and follow-up. WHEREAS, the WOPD and MHA participated in a pilot program between September 1, Deleted: EM 2020 and February 1, 2021, ; and Deleted: have begun collaborating on a pilot program WHEREAS, the WOPD and MHA continued their participation in the co-responder program between February 1, 2021 and October 1, 2021; andWHEREAS, the WOPD is highly Deleted: ¶ decorated and experienced in addressing a myriad of circumstances; and WHEREAS, between January 1, 2021 and through April 2026, the WOPD received 2,290 Deleted: July 13, 2019 and July 13, 2020 mental health calls; and Deleted: 393 WHEREAS, mental health calls require immediate, compassionate and directed responses and follow ups to ensure de-escalation and the safety and well-being of the community; and WHEREAS, the WOPD has previously implemented Operation HOPE (heroin-opiate prevention effort) to train volunteers and assist persons who voluntarily seek treatment; and WHEREAS, between January 1, 2021 and the present, the Township has received 1,765 Deleted: mental health calls, and the MHA has assisted with responding to 694 of those calls; and Deleted: the Township has previously entered into a ground-breaking pilot program with MHAEM but due to WHEREAS, regardless of whether the Township and/or MHA responds to a mental health

ground-breaking pilot program with MHAEM but due to WHEREAS, regardless of whether the Township and/or MHA responds to a mental health call resources, MHAEM was only able to respond to 37 calls during the six (6) month initiative while there have been in the community, MHA follows up with each individual encountered pursuant to a mental health call; approximately 197 mental health calls demonstrating a need and for further coverage and response WHEREAS, the Township received a grant on October 1, 2021 from the United States Deleted: the Township has made this a priority towards Department of Justice under the Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health the health, welfare and safety of the entire community; and¶ Responses Program (“DOJ Grant”) which expired on September 30, 2025; and Deleted: is desirous of applying to the Deleted: for a grant under the WHEREAS, the Township finds that their partnership with the MHA has been beneficial Deleted: . to the health, welfare, and safety of the community; and WHEREAS, the Township finds that it is in the best interest of the Township and its inhabitants to continue their partnership with the MHA. NOW, BE IT HEREBY AGREED BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND MHA as follows: Deleted: EM 1