Whenever an individual is about to be involuntarily hospitalized under the provisions of this chapter, an official or person designated by the court shall arrange for the individual’s transportation to the treatment facility with suitable medical or nursing attendants and by such means as may be suitable for the individual’s medical condition. Whenever practicable, the individual to be hospitalized must be permitted to be accompanied by one or more of the individual’s friends or relatives, and when practicable shall not be transported by police officers or in police vehicles. If the proposed patient is unable to pay for expenses of transportation, and friends or relatives do not oblige themselves to pay such expenses, the court may direct that such expenses be paid by the county of the patient’s residence.