A hot topic in our house is the mentally ill. My wife is a mental health counselor and I was, in another life, a LEO.
The thing people do not understand is when someone becomes combative for whatever reason the problem is there is always a weapon involved ( the LEO’s ) and all precautions must be made to win the altercation since the non-LEO’s always go for them. My lovely wife thinks that time to reflect and question the person as to why they are twisting off is warranted.
I say there is time for that after someone is cuffed. If they are nuts and take more effort to subdue I am sorry but it is hard to interview while you are being crawled up one side and the other.
Thanks for providing insight from the trenches. Those of us who have never had to face this type of situation have no idea of the risks involved.
Maybe the LEOs and the mental health community could come together to find better, realistic options for cases like this. Options where everyone gets a better deal.
Maybe some of the mental health experts should ride along with a LEO who deals with situations like this to see what it’s really like. Probably a little different than how they are used to seeing patients in a nice, clean office.
Has she ever watched “Cops”.
You only have to see a couple of big cops trying to cuff a tiny little crazed women to understand the problem.
Cops are fighting for their lives every time. Oh, and by the way, protecting everyone else standing around watching.
Sadly you cannot talk sense into someone who is senseless. Obviously she was mentally ill. What is an officer supposed to do when confronted with gaining control of this woman?
Her own family tried to talk sense into her. You can bet on that. That didn’t work. As a last resort they called the police so they could do the dirty work. Well they did.
I doubt anyone is happy how this turned out.
Look folks, getting someone under control when they are experiencing a physycotic episode is no picnic. You can’t count on their compliance, and they’re going to be striking out, kicking, scratching, poking in the eyes or whatever else they can do. They have to be taken down and subdued. That isn’t going to be pleasant.
There is absolutely no reason for the police to allow themselves to be injured, as a result of dealing with this woman. They don’t know what her full medical condition is. They don’t know if she has blood born diseases.
If it is proven these officers acted improperly I’ll reconsider. Until then, they’re going to be getting the benefit of the doubt from here.
This woman needs help. That may not be easy for the family to obtain. But this isn’t working either.
I can think of more than one cop who has been killed by a schizo while trying to do the ‘right thing’.
Folks shouldn’t call the cops if they don’t want someone who will control the situation.