4. Police Reform/Modernization: Stop Killing Mentally Ill
To stop police from killing the mentally ill, repeal Graham vs. Connor lethal force policies. To stop mentally ill from killing the police, stop calling the police for mental episodes, or provide a non-lethal weapon for all police calls. Modernization of police practices, education and appropriate treatment of persons with mental disorders can save lives.
According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) there are some 58 million mentally ill persons in the USA. Per the International Bipolar Association twenty-five percent of persons killed by police were mentally ill. NIMH defines serious mental illness as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
There are more than 200 different types of mental disorders. Often people who have contact with police are experiencing psychosis which refers to a collection of symptoms that affect the mind and there is a loss of contact with reality. They do not recognize what is real and what is not. Studies estimate that between 15 and 100 people out of 100,000 develop psychosis each year.
News resources detail the killing of mentally ill person’s. For example, Walter Wallace, Jr. suffered from mental illness, including bipolar disorder, and was taking lithium. The two officers arrived in the area to respond to a domestic dispute. When they arrived, Wallace walked out of his house carrying a knife. The two officers backed away while telling him to drop the knife shortly before they each fired several rounds at Wallace, hitting him in the shoulder and chest. He later died from his wounds. Wallace's family stated that Wallace was having a mental health crisis.
Alfred Olango's family called for A 5160 which is an involuntary psychiatric hold for treatment and release after three days. The request was for a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT). Fifty minutes after the first call, at least two non-PERT officers arrived on scene. Officers believed Olango was pointing a firearm, but what the officers thought he was holding turned out to be an e-cigarette. They shot and killed him.
Stacy Kenney who had schizophrenia had a bulletin sent out on her by the police department detailing her condition when she was stopped by the police. Why is unclear. They tried to pull her out of the car, beat her in the head, shot her with a stun gun and then shot her three times while she was on the phone calling 911. Her family was awarded 4.55 million dollars, a record settlement for the city of Springfield, Oregon.
According to mental health professionals the causes of mental health include: stress, chemical imbalances, traumatic brain injuries, parent exposure to toxic chemicals or harmful substances before giving birth, social isolation without the proper help, abuse and prolonged stress, turning to alcohol and substance abuse. You can contact the NIMH for a list of medications for mental health disorders.
However, many mentally ill people do not take their medication because they are unaware of their condition, self medicate with drugs and alcohol, cannot tolerate medical side effects or
To stop the killing of mentally ill persons, a combination of Emergency Medical Personnel and Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (EMT/PERT), State Behavioral Science Departments, Social Services, and US Public Health Services must help police develop non- lethal plans for dealing with persons who have a psychiatric episodes. Any solutions must include educating the public on mental illness in schools, libraries, on webpage of local social science and behavior science organizations.
We can find medical aids and restraint tools better than tasers. We can work to
accelerate the development of long lasting 6-months to one year medicated transdermal dermal patches. Persons can take mental health tests prior to purchasing firearms and prior to getting a learners permit/driver’s license.
We are still using policing protocols to bring about law and order. It is not effective. The police can't do public safety work alone. Collaboration with community groups is essential to stopping crime. We can eliminate lethal force excuses such as “afraid for my life,” or "I had to make a split second decision”, by developing better protective gear, high level audio
visual CCTV and Artificial Intelligence tools providing data for crime prevention and arrests.
It is time to move from medieval policing to modern futuristic smart responses, especially when responding to persons who are mentally ill and having a psychotic episode.
PC Pride formerly a Research Librarian/Media Specialist worked in Public, Special and University Libraries; worked as a reporter and Editorial Assistant for two newspapers; worked in urban city Economic Development as an Administrative Analyst, thereby evolving into a solution journalist who researches and writes on innovative and unorthodox approaches to addressing today’s conflicts and issues. Contact: pcopride@gmail.com
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