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I agree that it sounds like the cop that shot did so unnecessarily. The police were regular visitors and ‘know’ the situation? Sounds like cops were expected to, regularly, do what mental institutions should. That shouldn’t be their job.
How insane is it to say that the mental patient has to violently assault someone before preventative measures are taken? IMO- if one has a documented mental patient in their home there should be NO, NO way they can be prosecuted for protecting themselves. Laws allowing self-defense apply in every other case, why not with mental patients-ESPECIALLY with mental patients. Is martyrdom now a requirement?

Excellent post. All the bleeding-heart liberalization of mental healthcare since the 60s and reliance on meds to control behavior on the outside, are not working. Patient starts to feel normal except for the side effects; patient goes off the meds. Family members cannot commit an ill adult for care except in the most extreme and temporary circumstances.

Acquaintances of mine has had their family life disrupted time and again by a bipolar relative who threatens harm, is put away for a couple of days, then signs himself out because of his "rights", usually just in time to mess up the family's holidays, vacations or work crises, and scare the children half to death. Other friends had a son in and out of various facilities, then breaking into their house over and over. Finally, he was shot by police. They were almost too exhausted by fear of his marauding of their home in the middle of the night time and again to mourn him, but his father died soon afterward and before his time.