RE: The Mentally Ill Have Police Targets On Their Backs

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RE: The Mentally Ill Have Police Targets On Their Backs - 8/31/2017 9:35:52 PM

kdsub

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quote:

It is a quite common essay device to present an example of what you think is good so that you can contrast it to everything else that you think is bad. That’s why I praised, or the New York Times praised, the Portland Oregon Police Department for doing it right

Maybe we are talking about different stories... but if it is the one I think we are talking about... How can you possibly think leaving a mentally ill man, that had threatened others with a weapon, unsecured among innocent citizens an example of good policing?

As I and others have said the police do need training on how to secure the mentally ill for evaluation by professionals... but they must first secure the safety of innocents. If that means lethal force to protect themselves or others then they will have little choice. There is no way for the police to psychoanalyze and know beyond doubt how dangerous someone with a weapon is.

Butch

< Message edited by kdsub -- 8/31/2017 9:42:02 PM >

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RE: The Mentally Ill Have Police Targets On Their Backs - 9/1/2017 7:14:59 AM

vincentML

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quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

quote:

It is a quite common essay device to present an example of what you think is good so that you can contrast it to everything else that you think is bad. That’s why I praised, or the New York Times praised, the Portland Oregon Police Department for doing it right

Maybe we are talking about different stories... but if it is the one I think we are talking about... How can you possibly think leaving a mentally ill man, that had threatened others with a weapon, unsecured among innocent citizens an example of good policing?

As I and others have said the police do need training on how to secure the mentally ill for evaluation by professionals... but they must first secure the safety of innocents. If that means lethal force to protect themselves or others then they will have little choice. There is no way for the police to psychoanalyze and know beyond doubt how dangerous someone with a weapon is.

Butch

You make a good point, Butch. But consider time and place. It was not as if the man was swinging his sword in the midst of downtown traffic at high noon. This was in a deserted place at 3 o’clock in the morning. And apparently, case studies show that this kind of behavior flames out among the mentally ill., It is a question of risk management and taking all factors into consideration. I don’t say that lightly. I acknowledge your point of view.

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