Santa Cruz police officer stabbed in leg, suspect not shot several times in head until dead.

[hardluck]

29. No taser or pepper spray

My sister and brother in law called 911 because my dad had taken a chefs knife out and was threatening himself and my brother in law. Single officer showed up got out of his patrol car. At that time my dad was already outside about 15 feet away or so. The rest follows the news story I posted.

My dad had a history of mental illness and had some prior contacts w the police. It would have been better if they had sent 2 officer so one could have deployed a bean bag or tazer. They didn't, the officer felt threatened, and then shot him.

This was the culmination of a very bad year. That august, he tried to commit suicide by driving off a cliff on the highway. He survived but was in a coma for a month. He spent until Christmas in a facility getting physical therapy and treatment for his mental illness. He was released for Christmas and then this incident happened.

Mental illness in America is such a difficult issue. We spent years in the maze of private insurance, Medicare, the VA, etc. it's so disheartening when you're trying to get help but your family member doesn't want it.