Naperville could create new police unit to respond to mental health calls

Naperville City Council members this week said they want to include $1.26 million in the 2026 budget to establish a mobile crisis intervention team within the police department.

The new unit would include six officers and a canine and would respond to calls involving mental health concerns. According to city officials, police responded to about 900 such calls in the past year.

“Public safety and mental health are part of our core city services; they affect everyone’s lives every day,” Naperville Councilwoman Mary Gibson said Tuesday in support of the new unit. “Waiting (to implement the unit) doesn’t do much to help those members of our community who are making those 900 calls.”

The addition of the unit to the budget comes despite warnings from the city’s finance director about increased spending.

“Throughout this budget season, I have conveyed a message of caution,” Finance Director Ray Munch said, noting that economic factors suggest the city could face a tightening of revenue in the future.

Still, city council members noted the MCIT unit was discussed last year and put off. Mayor Scott Wehrli also noted Naperville has a lower ratio of officers for every 1,000 residents than other comparable departments.

“There is justification in my eyes for an increase in sworn personnel,” said Wehrli, who initially suggested approval for a team of two additional officers with the potential for four later in 2026. Ultimately, however, Wehrli voted with the majority of the council to add the request for six officers to the budget.

Council members Josh McBroom and Nate Wilson cast the only no votes on adding the new police unit.

“There are some flashing yellow lights going off right now, and I’m concerned that we might not be as serious as I think we should be up here,” McBroom said about increasing spending in the budget.

Munch said funding for the new unit would come through an increase in property taxes. The owner of a $580,000 home would pay about $16 in additional taxes.

The city council will vote on the proposed budget and a $60.7 million tax levy at its Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 meetings, respectively. The city's current proposed budget of $685.13 million will be increased to include funding for the new unit; the proposed levy includes the increased funding.

Besides the additional officers, no other new hires are included in the proposed budget, Munch said. He added department heads found areas to cut to help hold the line on spending.

In the new program category, Munch pointed to three initiatives, including a police drone first responder program, budgeted at $150,000; a website redesign, budgeted at $100,000; and a planning study for either the I-88 corridor or the Fifth Avenue area, budgeted at $150,000. City council members must still decide which area to focus on for the study, Munch said.

If funding is approved, Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said he would hire the new officers within the first quarter of 2026.