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'Street Crisis' team to replace San Francisco police on mental health calls

sfgate.com

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Re: 'Street Crisis' team to replace San Francisco police on mental health calls

#31
post #18
post #7

Why would someone call the police for a non-violent mental health issue? I can only imagine the need if there is a danger or someone will need to be restrained. I can only see this increasing risk of danger to citizens.

I called the police on someone who was stumbling around on the sidewalk next to a calm but normally fast street. I was worried for her safety, that she was going to stumble into traffic, so I called the cops because I had no idea what else to do. In a way, I guess I assumed/hoped that they would be smart enough to dispatch a health worker after hearing what I told them. Why didn’t I try to help the woman? Simple. I’m…

This situation feels like it would probabaly require force to restrain the person from hurting themselves. Everyone has encountered beligerant drunk people who are putting themselves at risk but not listening to anyone.

Is a health worker allowed to grab someone who is about to walk into oncoming traffic. Should they have as part of there job description to have to physically restrain people without self protection or training in self defense.

It just feels unfair to put health workers in potentially violent situations without police backup.

We need police trained as health workers or health workers trained as police. Maybe they wear different clothes. But they need to have the same self defense training.

Re: 'Street Crisis' team to replace San Francisco police on mental health calls

#32
post #10
post #7

Why would someone call the police for a non-violent mental health issue? I can only imagine the need if there is a danger or someone will need to be restrained. I can only see this increasing risk of danger to citizens.

People call the police for, for example, suicidal people all the time. And no, it doesn't always end well, hence the change.

If someone has a gun and is suicidal there is the chance that they could injure others.

I have seen a lot of suicide by police though which is always very tragic and heart breaking, so you definitely have a point.

But then with every new encounter there is the chance that they actually start shooting.

Also if someone is suicidal they are not too concerned about consequences such as jail because they alrwsdy don't plan to be around to have to face it. So as sad as it is, there is always a high risk of danger to others.

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