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Jedi Guy

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31. Speaking as a former police dispatcher, mental health/crisis units don't go until a scene is secure.

Sat Jun 13, 2020, 07:07 PM

Jun 2020

The department I worked for had such units available, sometimes ready to roll, sometimes on call. But they were never first on the scene. Officers were sent to the scene to assess the situation and, once they deemed it safe for the behavioral science folks, they joined the officers on scene. It's done that way for the safety of the behavioral science folks, since an unknown person in a parking lot at night is a different scenario to a person in a clinic or hospital.

Also "drunk" can also mean "possibly violent" given that alcohol lowers inhibition and can cause aggression. Being on guard when approaching a drunk person is not unreasonable. And it only takes one encounter along the lines of this one to reinforce the lesson for an officer. It also really doesn't help matters that damn near anyone in this country can get a gun. That fact is also floating around in officers' minds.

As a fun fact, would you care to guess which situation makes police most nervous?

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BREAKING: Atlanta police chief resigns [View all] brooklynite Jun 2020 OP

Whatever the communities need to do. Laffy Kat Jun 2020 #1

Police The Police, Sir The Magistrate Jun 2020 #2

She was one of the good ones. Just a week ago Calista241 Jun 2020 #3

yes, this article gives a bit of info about her........... riversedge Jun 2020 #14

The GBI is setting the stage to let this cop walk. I just watched the video they released tulipsandroses Jun 2020 #4

According to CNN the guy beat up the cop and had taken his taser. Calista241 Jun 2020 #5

As the mayor said JackintheGreen Jun 2020 #8

He was armed. Suppose he gets away, and car jacks someone. Calista241 Jun 2020 #10

Lets stick to the facts. tulipsandroses Jun 2020 #11

So who should be responding to calls involving a drunk and possibly violent person? N/T Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #15

People that are trained and experienced with dealing mental health and substance abuse issues tulipsandroses Jun 2020 #18

EXACTLY. These cops escalated the situation. THEY brought weapons into it. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #20

So you deal with drunk people in parking lots? LeftInTX Jun 2020 #27

So if a mental health crisis team responded, there would be no tasers in the first place tulipsandroses Jun 2020 #42

From what I understand, he was driving and passed out LeftInTX Jun 2020 #56

So you do your clinical work in Wendy's parking lots in the middle of the night? Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #29

I work in an outpatient clinic currently. I previously worked inpatient detox, and inpatient tulipsandroses Jun 2020 #45

Yes, they would. After officers were on scene and had determined it was safe for them. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #53

Crisis teams responding instead of police is already successful in some cities and countries. tulipsandroses Jun 2020 #59

Drunk. Full stop. JackintheGreen Jun 2020 #19

Good Points All. n/t MarcA Jun 2020 #21

Speaking as a former police dispatcher, mental health/crisis units don't go until a scene is secure. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #31

You're missing the point JackintheGreen Jun 2020 #41

That is because everyone isn't armed in the UK LeftInTX Jun 2020 #57

Lots of unregulated guns in Pakistan JackintheGreen Jun 2020 #58

Unfortunately the US is a lot like Pakistan LeftInTX Jun 2020 #86

When I was a dispatcher, my department conducted a study. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #89

People are trying to change that JonLP24 Jun 2020 #93

As a nurse, we didn't let intoxicated visitors in the hospital LeftInTX Jun 2020 #52

He allegedly was armed with a taser. Nevilledog Jun 2020 #12

And had already been fired based on the cops statement that he turn and fired the tasers. usaf-vet Jun 2020 #95

Yup. Nevilledog Jun 2020 #96

Wow Hammer, Nail perfect hit. One blow. Sunk Flush. You called it. usaf-vet Jun 2020 #97

Therein lies the rub for cops. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. N/T Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #13

They would not have been "damned" if they didn't shoot him. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #22

Do you know for a fact that they didn't talk to him and offer an alternative solution? Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #28

Why automatically assume he's a criminal? He was committing no crime when they came. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #33

I'd be curious to know who called the police and why in this instance. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #37

The caller apparently claimed his car was blocking the drive-thru lane. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #44

I'm not justifying anything. I'm simply not willing to automatically condemn the cops. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #54

It may be a free country for you, but black men don't seem to enjoy the same freedom. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #73

I'll wait for the full investigation to be completed. But hey, you do you! Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #75

They were fired and you're defending them JonLP24 Jun 2020 #94

I worked with violent people with developmental disabilities where police were called. pazzyanne Jun 2020 #36

That situation works fine when you know who you're dealing with and what their issue is. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #39

HE WAS ASLEEP IN HIS CAR. He was not "acting erratically" nor "alarming" anyone. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #48

I was speaking generally rather than about this specific instance. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #50

No you were not. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #70

I really was, but if you get your giggles assuming otherwise, have a blast. Jedi Guy Jun 2020 #76

Project much? SunSeeker Jun 2020 #77

The behavior training gives you lots of tools to use to deescalate. pazzyanne Jun 2020 #49

This message was self-deleted by its author morillon Jun 2020 #23

Nice catch. nt SunSeeker Jun 2020 #25

Until the drunk guy gets into another car and kills someone. Then the city gets sued. oldsoftie Jun 2020 #38

What car is he going to get in to? JackintheGreen Jun 2020 #46

Cop was not in fear of his life, he was pissed because he had to chase oasis Jun 2020 #9

Would have been a good time for a chokehold so he never got up off the ground, oh wait... Baclava Jun 2020 #16

The suspect was active trying to shoot the cop when he was shot. BrightKnight Jun 2020 #60

How about doing what cops usually do and call for additional units and K-9? oasis Jun 2020 #61

IDK, the suspect was aiming carefully and trying to shoot a cop. BrightKnight Jun 2020 #63

You wrote "don't try to shoot a cop with a gun". oasis Jun 2020 #66

LOL - It's not a good plan if the cop has a gun. BrightKnight Jun 2020 #69

If you honestly believe the cop thought the victim could tase oasis Jun 2020 #74

Hard to see but if the suspect was no longer trying BrightKnight Jun 2020 #82

Yet he was shot in the back. Politicub Jun 2020 #55

watch the video- nt BrightKnight Jun 2020 #67

I'm gonna tell ya a secret, Corgigal Jun 2020 #6

Hand a combative drunk over to an Uber driver? I don't think that will work. nt JustABozoOnThisBus Jun 2020 #87

and here's the end of the chase video, 28:30 mark, guy turns and fires taser then is shot Baclava Jun 2020 #7

The cops know how far their taser darts go (usually about 25"). SunSeeker Jun 2020 #68

I think the policeman could have choosen a different action rockfordfile Jun 2020 #90

I think the cop was out of line Gymbo Jun 2020 #17

Any cop who takes their weapon out of their holster today soothsayer Jun 2020 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author morillon Jun 2020 #26

Don't think shooting was necessary, but it was nothing like George Floyd. Hoyt Jun 2020 #30

STOP calling the cops over people asleep/drunk in their cars soothsayer Jun 2020 #32

+1000. Hoyt Jun 2020 #34

Medics dont go in until the scene is safe, you want social workers to get their asses beat first? Baclava Jun 2020 #35

And thats likely what would have happened in this case.. oldsoftie Jun 2020 #40

Sometimes you fight people who you fear will kill you soothsayer Jun 2020 #47

They can go together but don't let the cop soothsayer Jun 2020 #43

+1000000. American cops are instruments of death TristanIsolde Jun 2020 #85

Took cops taser and pointed at cop. Self defense BrightKnight Jun 2020 #51

Wrong JackintheGreen Jun 2020 #71

Tazing is nonlethal force. He was running away. And obviously shot the tazer to keep them back. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #72

So the cop should let himself be tased and not try BrightKnight Jun 2020 #78

No, he should have just stayed 25' back and followed the guy. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #79

The cop appeared to be in range BrightKnight Jun 2020 #81

Brooks was RUNNING AWAY as he shot the tazer, he didn't stop to aim.. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #83

Shooting him was not necessary. BrightKnight Jun 2020 #84

18 minutes from shot to ambulance leaving. scipan Jun 2020 #98

Protesters now blocking/shutting down I-75 in Atlanta, teargas and flashbangs at Wendys Baclava Jun 2020 #62

So ... the white supremacists win another round? FakeNoose Jun 2020 #64

CNN crew attacked, camera smashed, Wendy's about to burn, its on Baclava Jun 2020 #65

The CNN crewmembers themselves were not attacked, just some protestors broke their camera. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #80

Having seen and studied all the videos and reports that have been coming over the last couple of TristanIsolde Jun 2020 #88

Or maybe he was an impaired black man absolutely terrified of being put into handcuffs StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #91

I saw the body cam and it is very sad LeftInTX Jun 2020 #92

I imagine the cops felt somewhat embarrassed or humiliated. scipan Jun 2020 #99