Burbank Police Department honored for mental health program

The Burbank Police Department’s mental health evaluation team is one of six local law enforcement agencies to be honored for its efforts by the state attorney general.

When established roughly a year ago, the Burbank evaluation team was tasked with responding to an uptick in mental health calls citywide, which had jumped from 293 calls in 2008 to 567 last year, officials said.

“Officers would triage such incidents, but there was no structure to provide follow-up or long-term care,” Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris said during a ceremony in downtown L.A. on Thursday. “This team provides that missing piece.”

The goal of the program was to go beyond responding to incidents and making arrests by teaming up with mental health professionals to offer long-term care, including case management for individuals struggling with chronic mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness and criminal history.

“In just over a year, they have made a huge difference in Burbank,” Harris said.

Officials pointed to several instances where the team’s efforts led to rehabilitation, including an incident in which the team counseled a group of students out of a suicide pact.

The mental health evaluation team consists of Los Angeles County clinical social worker Dr. Jennifer Hunt, Burbank police Sgt. Mike Parrinello, and officers Adam Adler, Scott Moody and Kristiana Sanchez.

“It’s a big deal to have the state recognize the efforts of this program,” said Burbank police Capt. Mike Albanese. “A lot of behind the scenes work has come to fruition.”

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alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com