[Red80]

to me this sounds like one of those situations for which communities are asking for trained social service or mental health response teams instead of police.

EXACTLY my thinking.

We just listened, read the article. Heartbreaking. Ashley certainly sounded like she was fearing for her husband and dreaded having to make that call.

If those cops were as bad as the dispatcher, Sherm is lucky to have lived. There was no need for them to escalate this, he obviously needed some mental health assistance. Damnit.

We know next to nothing nothing about the situation.   Period.  As for the cops, it is so damn easy to sit in the comfort of your living room and say….  They have to respond. In real time. With heated situations.  And domestic issues are often extremely dangerous.  Social workers aren’t equipped to handle those. A lot of cops probably aren’t either. But there sure are a boatload of  folks sitting on their butts that know the answers….

And while I’m responding to your post, I’m not directing this at you.  It’s a national issue.

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to me this sounds like one of those situations for which communities are asking for trained social service or mental health response teams instead of police.

EXACTLY my thinking.

Of course it is.  But you have no fricking clue what the situation was.

As someone who experienced the frightening behavior of a drunken, violent family member on multiple occasions, I thank God and the police who responded to our domestic dramas. There's no way that a social worker, mental health specialist, or alcohol counselor would have been able to handle  our situation. It probably would have ended in tragedy. Our family member did eventually receive the help that they needed, but at the time of their out-of-control behavior, physical restraint, force, and cuffs were necessary.

[Red80]

to me this sounds like one of those situations for which communities are asking for trained social service or mental health response teams instead of police.

EXACTLY my thinking.

We just listened, read the article. Heartbreaking. Ashley certainly sounded like she was fearing for her husband and dreaded having to make that call.

If those cops were as bad as the dispatcher, Sherm is lucky to have lived. There was no need for them to escalate this, he obviously needed some mental health assistance. Damnit.

We know next to nothing nothing about the situation.   Period.  As for the cops, it is so damn easy to sit in the comfort of your living room and say….  They have to respond. In real time. With heated situations.  And domestic issues are often extremely dangerous.  Social workers aren’t equipped to handle those. A lot of cops probably aren’t either. But there sure are a boatload of  folks sitting on their butts that know the answers….

And while I’m responding to your post, I’m not directing this at you.  It’s a national issue.

---

to me this sounds like one of those situations for which communities are asking for trained social service or mental health response teams instead of police.

EXACTLY my thinking.

Of course it is.  But you have no fricking clue what the situation was.

As someone who experienced the frightening behavior of a drunken, violent family member on multiple occasions, I thank God and the police who responded to our domestic dramas. There's no way that a social worker, mental health specialist, or alcohol counselor would have been able to handle  our situation. It probably would have ended in tragedy. Our family member did eventually receive the help that they needed, but at the time of their out-of-control behavior, physical restraint, force, and cuffs were necessary.