VicPD went before council Thursday night to make their case for $240,000 to pay for 2 officers to work hand-in-hand with a mental health outreach team. But outreach workers like Bruce Dean say more police at least in this area isn't the answer. "Please don't do this. They're known as the biggest gang around. If you're going to spend money on mental health don't do it like this." Outreach workers say police have no psychological or mental health training and are not suited to do outreach work.
VicPD disagrees, acting chief Del Manak says its officers should be given a chance, "if you don't know the nontraditional role the police play and how we help people, we save lives."
The two-year pilot project would come with a $240,000 price tag, money some outreach workers think sould be used for more social workers and street nurses.