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March 4, 2008

Advocates ask police to work with mental health pros

In an open letter to the police chiefs of the state, eight advocacy groups urged them to provide more training to help officers respond to calls for help with subjects that have a mental illness.

The letter was sent as a response to two recent deaths of men whose families had called the police to help the men get access to mental health care.

Jason Swift, 31, was shot and killed by a Pawtucket police officer. Forty-year-old Leonel Farias died after a struggle with East Providence police.

“We realize that investigations of these two incidents are ongoing,” the letter states, “and we do not seek to cast blame on the police officers involved.”

But though some departments have initiated special training on their own, the letter said “Broader, and more comprehensive training is essential if more tragedies are not to take place,” such as collaborative programs between police departments and mental health agencies.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 10:45 AM | Permalink

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