I agree with Wizard about the fear produced in people by the label "mentally ill." Often, people think mental illness equals "insane" or "psychopath" and that it refers to an absolute and untreatable state of being, or some romantic connection with "genius" and poetry, rather than a disease as real as a disease of the body. Police officers are as prone as anyone else is to stereotypes about the mentally ill (they certainly have been prone, in some southern states, to unfounded stories about devil-worship and "Satanic cult rituals.")
Interestingly, in the national news a man who shot and killed a priest and a 76-year-old parishoner at a Long Island church was chased by an off-duty police officer, who wrestled the gun from the man. The suspect was later arrested without incident at his home despite brandishing a knife at officers. I found the police policy links supplied by Dana to be relevant and very informative. One link's recommendation of the use of the riot shield against a weapon-wielding patient was forehead-slapping-commonsensical. Minneapolis definitely should look to other cities and their policies for guidance. Kristine Harley Sheridan _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
