Building a more accessible police force

By: Chyann Klahs and Emily Rubera

Local police departments are implementing measures to prevent the mistreatment of people with disabilities and mental illness.

Police departments' insufficient training is an important issue because of the significant number of individuals who have a disability or mental health disorder. Many 9–1–1 calls involve disabled or mentally ill people. Many of these calls result in harm to the individual, leading many in the public to believe police lack basic training and education when it comes to disability and mental illness.

According to the National Down Syndrome Society, People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are much more likely to have encounters with law enforcement and first responders, yet are also more likely to have communication difficulties that can lead to misunderstandings, sometimes with tragic consequences.

To prevent mistreatment of disabled and mentally ill people, the Gates Chili Police Department provides officers with an additional 40 hours of crisis training and is also participating in the “D” project to promote awareness and fundraise for disabilities like autism. Gates Police Department lieutenant Robert Long believes that local departments should follow by example and implement practices like these.

“Other agencies should model what we do here, we are sending all of our officers to an additional 40-hour crisis intervention training course, this is added mental health training. We also partner with a local autism community through the campaign “D” project, assisting with educational opportunities, fundraisers, and autism awareness,” said Long.

Vicki Rubera is a mother of a child with many forms of mental illnesses. Her daughter, Paula suffers from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and Bipolar Disorder. Rubera says these disorders often cause her daughter to become violent and difficult to handle. Rubera says during these violent outbursts, she relies on police to de-escalate the situation. Rubera says it seems that officers intensify situations and end up fighting violence with violence.

Vicki Rubera is a mother of a child with many forms of mental illnesses. Her daughter, Paula suffers from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and Bipolar Disorder. Rubera says these disorders often cause her daughter to become violent and difficult to handle. Rubera says during these violent outbursts, she relies on police to de-escalate the situation. Rubera says it seems that officers intensify situations and end up fighting violence with violence.

A large percentage of police interactions with individuals who have disabilities or mental illnesses end in violence. When it comes to people with disabilities, WTHR 13 explains that 30% to 50% of police calls involving disabled individuals end in violence.

In addition to this, many police calls involving a person who has a mental illness also end in violence. According to Mental Health First Aid, Approximately 10% of police calls involve a person with mental illness, making police the nation’s de facto first responders to mental health crises.

Mental Health First Aid believes that these startling statistics can be reduced by providing officers with training and additional resources like crisis teams, to keep both the officer and the individual safe.

Mental Health First Aid argues that to address these tragic statistics, we need to supply adequate tools that police can use when they respond to mental health emergencies, so they can do so in a safe, effective, and caring manner that de-escalates tense situations. Additionally, we need to provide the appropriate skills for police to care for themselves. It is critical that police receive specialized mental health training.

most people believe that police training is incredibly important, but advocates argue that training is not enough. Jessica Sniatecki is the Vice-Chair of SUNY Brockport’s Accessibility Committee. She believes that individuals who specialize in crisis response and de-escalation should accompany police on calls involving individuals with disabilities or mental illness.

“There are situations where a different type of professional should be responding, to try to de-escalate or talk to the person. Some situations may benefit from having someone with real expertise on how conditions might affect someone and how techniques could be used to engage the person and proceed in a more productive way,” said Sniatecki.

Many individuals with disabilities and mental illnesses agree that police training is beneficial, but will not resolve police mistreatment of people with disabilities and mental health disorders. Paige Dwiggins is a 22-year-old woman with autism. She believes that crisis counselors should work alongside police, to help de-escalate violent situations and prevent harm to both the individual and the officers.

“I think that they need to have mental health professionals who are trained to deal with people with autism and other disabilities, like crisis counselors who would go on calls with them,” said Dwiggins.

Officer Long believes crisis teams are a great asset for police in certain crisis situations. However, in situations that involve a person with a weapon or someone who is being violent towards others, crisis teams are not a safe solution.

“Here in Monroe County, we have the FIT (Family In Crisis) team. They are mental health professionals that respond with law enforcement on calls and issues. What then becomes tricky is that they are unarmed and not law enforcement officers. So, when we respond to the suicidal person with a gun call, they are not the best person to have with us as they are not protected nor do they know our tactics,” said Long.

Police departments are taking steps to prevent the mistreatment of people with disabilities and mental illness, but advocates believe that what is being done is not enough. These advocates argue that police are unequipped when it comes to people with disabilities and mental illness, and the implementation of crisis teams is essential to prevent mistreatment of these individuals.