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shitposts_over_9000 t1_iqvfkkz wrote

It was fairly common as a goal in the 80s and 90s for departments, or more commonly multi-county agencies to try to set these up, but in most jurisdictions they suffered the same problem the big departments' negotiation teams did.

99% of the time by the point you can ensure that the situation is safe enough to send unarmed individuals in everything is already over and in that 1% where it isn't the difference between regular EMTs dog piling someone along with the cops vs an extended standoff while someone tries to talk them into the bus voluntarily they is mostly just a few bumps and bruises.

There are absolutely cases where it makes a huge difference, but they are rare unless the police are putting the specialists at a fair bit of risk.

Simply put, most rural communities will choose another armed officer on patrol over a specialist on call all day every day.

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iluniuhai t1_iqyullp wrote

Once a middle class white lady gets executed during a mental health crises they change their minds. Happened where I live. We have a very nice program here now.

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shitposts_over_9000 t1_iqzxeod wrote

I didn't mean to imply that there were not jurisdictions that still try it despite evidence, just that the majority of jurisdictions have reviewed the numbers and decided their limited funds are more effectively spent on something more able to be used regularly.

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