I agree with you that the police need more training. I have offered up an alternative approach to the "Memphis" model which gives select officers about 40 hours of training. The community psych model uses PHd track student interns who are supervised by faculty and licensed psychologists. They ride with the police to deal with domestic disputes and psychotic people. The police are trained in dealing with mentally ill people and they decide on the level of force. In operation, the police develop working relationships with the psych interns. They consult with each other on tactics and the division of labor. Like I said before, the police determine the level of force to be used. By adding professionally trained specialists to assist the police, the police can make better decisions and be able to controll the situations without having to use deadly force as often. I'd like to hear others' comments on this and on other alternative programs for the police dealing with mentally ill people.
David Wilson Loring Park On Tue, 8 Oct 2002, Renee Jenson wrote: > David Wilson wrote: > > I read the St. Paul Police Chief's editorial in the St. Paul paper. I > > thought that it was a reasonable approach and didn't see how Renee > > concluded that that he didn't have any understanding of mental illness. > > Police Chief Finney's last sentence was: "Rather than criticism, I would ask > that you give them (the police force) your understanding, confidence, and > support." > > He doesn't get it. The criticism is directed at HIM. Why isn't he training > his force to deal with the mentally ill in appropriate ways. Why are we > second class citizens? Why is it alright to take us out because we get in > the way of how they usually perform their jobs? Why is it alright to kill > us and excuse it by saying we are mentally ill and acting irrationally? If > anyone else is ill and is in crisis do they shoot them? > > Why isn't everyone on the Minneapolis police force trained to deal with the > mentally ill? How large of percentage of cases do police deal with each day > that have mental health issues? If the Minneapolis Police Chief understood > mental health issues he would make it a high priority to get training for > all of his people. How about the Mayor? Any push from him? > > When I move back to the Cities I will be living by myself. If I become > unstable and have a crisis the last people I want anyone to call is the > police. That is not the way it should be. And you know what? I don't > think I'm alone. In fact, I know I'm not alone. I've heard from others on > this list and others on mn-politics that they feel the same way. > > So I need one of those medical alert bracelets that says "I have bipolar. > If I have a medical crisis, under no circumstances, notify the police in > Mpls or St. Paul. Hit me over the head with a 2x4 if you have to but get me > to a hospital." > > Renee Jenson > WI > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
