Rutland City Police in Vermont have submitted a request for Opioid Settlement Funds to city government to be reviewed by the Finance Committee. The department hopes to use a portion of these funds to remodel the police station to make accommodations for their new Situation Table program as well as to acquire a community outreach van. Both are approved uses of these funds. In the first two weeks of launching, there have been five situations brought to the Table with the overall risk lowered on two already. A room designed for Table meetings would improve functionality and enhance agency participation and collaboration. A dedicated van would allow the community outreach team to continue to meet people where they are to reduce their overall risk and law enforcement interactions.
Commander Prouty, Outreach Commander of Rutland Police Department, was quoted as saying, “The ‘situation table’ is a new intervention model promoted by the state in which police and social service agencies cooperate on specific concerns they have identified in the community.”
Mike Botieri, Senior Community Engagement Specialist with Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National, was quoted as saying, “This is another tool in the box tool belt for all agencies, not just law enforcement.” He went on to say, “Really, the most important piece of the model is its pre-crisis.”
Botieri said most intervention models respond to incidents whereas this one makes predictions about needs based on risk factors.
Rutland Herald – Police Seek Settlement Money for Community Intervention Efforts