Proper Police Response to the Mentally Ill

Certain people with a history of mental illness may be misunderstood upon an encounter with police officers. Although the mentally-ill person may not mean the officers any harm, a fatal incident may come about as a result. If such a thing has happened to a friend or loved one of yours, then you will need the help of a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney to claim your due. Your counsel may advise you on police procedures to better understand the case. 

Cooperation. Police can’t tackle the challenge of managing the mentally-ill by themselves. They need to work with mental health professionals for their expertise in dealing with them and to improve their response to (and prevention of) potential incidents. They should also work with emergency hospitals to have a clear picture of expectations, such as knowing when a police officer should stay or when to leave it to hospital security. 

Training. Knowledge is the best weapon, and this can be shared with officers through discussions, tours of mental health institutions and even roleplaying with actors. With the right trainings, officers will be that much better-equipped to find a peaceful resolution.

Information. There are two types of information that could help responding officers the most: those concerning local clinics and services where the mentally-ill (and their loved ones) can be referred to when needed and those concerning community members known to have mental illness. Knowing these beforehand, officers will be more likely to resolve situations with the least amount of force.