People in Crisis—Law Enforcement’s Response Matters
This week retired psychotherapist Patricia Miles Patterson teams up with graphic artist and UW–Madison Linguistics major Nisha Stukel. Their piece highlights what is being done in Dane County to improve outcomes for people in crisis and for the law enforcement officers called upon as first-responders.
People in Crisis—Law Enforcement’s Response Matters
by Patricia Miles Patterson
Artwork by Nisha Stukel
Images flash through her mind—deadlines/time/her child crying/her boss’s angry words/what’s in the tap water that will poison her family. Every day her own mind’s audio is stuck on replay. “It’s like my stuffing is coming out,” she tells her husband. He’s out of work. She’s working full-time. Their daughter is in his care. She wants to talk about her day. He has been with their child all day and needs a break. She’s losing her grip and no one understands. Tears flow—she bolts out the door—runs down the street. Her panicking husband, carrying their crying daughter follows, calling to her. Neighbors call 911. The police arrive, their guns drawn . . .
This scenario is fictionalized but represents actual mental health crises. Those called to help are met with complex drama every time. How they respond has profound repercussions.
“No one calls us to give us good news. They call us because something bad is happening so they are in a crisis.…On average in a police academy in this country they spend 60 hours or more learning how to shoot a gun and they spend eight on mental health and communication. We need to shift that.” Ernie and Joe narrating in the documentary film, Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops.
Our League’s February 18 forum focuses on how community residents and those called upon to keep order benefit when officers are given the training they need to help manage tough-to-read emotionally charged and potentially volatile situations. You can join the conversation by registering here.
Dane County is working countywide to bring about better outcomes for those in crisis, their loved ones and the police officers who are called in as first responders. Below are some resources to learn more:
The Madison Police Department has a long-standing commitment to partner with mental health providers to improve services to those with mental health challenges. The Mental Health Liaison/Officer Program responds with a specialized approach and provides added support to community members and first-responding officers before, during and after any mental health crisis occurs.
Creating ‘a more fair and just system’: Dane County explores Community Justice Center. A community-driven court, a trauma-informed counseling clinic for addiction treatment, job training, a school, a youth court and free legal representation could be part of Dane County’s Community Justice Center, which is just starting to take form. Recommendations to the County Board are expected by June.
The Dane County Criminal Justice Council has partnered with criminal justice experts from across the nation to help inform and enhance policy decisions. One of three formal subcommittees, the Behavioral Health Subcommittee, focuses on the intersection of behavioral health conditions and the criminal justice system. This committee’s goals are:
To divert and deflect individuals with behavioral health challenges from the criminal justice system.
To improve individual and system-level services for those in the target population at each point of the criminal justice system.
To reduce recidivism and establish greater opportunities for improving public safety and public health outcomes for people with mental and behavioral health disorders.
TEDx Talk by Crisis Cop Joe Smarro.
View the trailer for Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops here. Those who register for our February 18 forum Crisis Cops: Creating a Community of Care will be able to view the entire documentary for seven days after the forum.
Addendum: We expect the recording of the forum will be posted on our YouTube channel by March 1. It will also be linked from our forum information page.
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