vexingsilence t1_j32ltq2 wrote
Reply to comment by NathanVfromPlus in AG: Police shot and killed teenager allegedly armed with knife in Gilford | New Hampshire Public Radio by ACOdysseybeatsRDR2
>"Mental illness isn't curable by just talking to someone."
>
>But momentary emotional distress absolutely is.
We don't have any details as to why the police used lethal force so it's difficult to accept this statement. If a person is wielding a knife in a threatening manner, that's not a situation where a social worker is magically going to defuse the situation. Is it possible? Sure. But depending on how the situation played out, this may not have been avoidable. If anything, we need to address these mental health issues before it gets to a situation like this. Perhaps attempts were made and failed, we'll have to wait and see as more information becomes available. But simply pointing fingers at the police and police procedures does not appear to warranted right now.
NathanVfromPlus t1_j32rv9k wrote
> If a person is wielding a knife in a threatening manner, that's not a situation where a social worker is magically going to defuse the situation.
Actually... yeah, it absolutely can be. Often, that's exactly what mental health crisis intervention looks like.
> Is it possible? Sure.
Not just possible, but also plausible, and more probable than a police officer doing the same.
> But depending on how the situation played out, this may not have been avoidable.
That's pretty defeatist. Sure, it's possible the death might have been unavoidable... but what if it was avoidable? We'll never know now.
> If anything, we need to address these mental health issues before it gets to a situation like this.
10,000% behind this.
> But simply pointing fingers at the police and police procedures does not appear to warranted right now.
If it's not warranted after the police kill a kid, then when is it warranted?
vexingsilence t1_j32w3op wrote
>If it's not warranted after the police kill a kid, then when is it warranted?
It's only warranted if they did something wrong. They're not at fault for the way our society deals with mental health. It escalated to the point where someone needed 911 and a police response, authorities told reporters that the individual was armed with a knife. So long as their procedures were carried out properly, there's nothing else to pursue. The AG will make that determination, and if not, it can be decided in the courts.
If you want to revamp the entire system, that's something that either needs to be done at the local level or by the state legislature. Cops responding to an emergency call aren't in a position to make those kind of changes, they have to follow their department's policies and procedures.
NathanVfromPlus t1_j331f7c wrote
> It's only warranted if they did something wrong.
Killing kids isn't wrong?
> They're not at fault for the way our society deals with mental health.
They're at fault for their role in the way our society deals with mental health.
> So long as their procedures were carried out properly, there's nothing else to pursue.
"I was just following orders, Sir."
> If you want to revamp the entire system
I'd love to do this. Yes, please.
> that's something that either needs to be done at the local level or by the state legislature.
Ideally, I'd like to work on that at every level, ranging from the individual level to the national level.
> Cops responding to an emergency call aren't in a position to make those kind of changes
They're in a position to change how they react to the situation. Drawing weapons was a personal choice, made by both officers.
> they have to follow their department's policies and procedures.
They really don't, though.
vexingsilence t1_j333pv5 wrote
17 years old is not a "kid". That's a young adult.
The police do not control the mental health system.
There is no federal role in this, it's up to the state and local authorities. The feds can provide assistance, but they have to leave this to the states to figure out. It is not in the fed's domain.
>They're in a position to change how they react to the situation. Drawing weapons was a personal choice, made by both officers.
Not based on what we know. A person menacing people with a knife is a deadly situation. The police must react if that person is threatening the life of another. We'll have to wait until more information is released, but so far there are no red flags. The police did what they're trained to do, and they're trained the way they are to protect us and the police that responded.
NathanVfromPlus t1_j33fr71 wrote
> 17 years old is not a "kid". That's a young adult.
Try telling that to the military.
> The police do not control the mental health system.
That doesn't mean they don't play a role in how society deals with mental health.
> Not based on what we know.
We know humans have free will.
> The police must react if that person is threatening the life of another.
False. Police have no legal obligation to endanger themselves for the protection of others.
> but so far there are no red flags.
Just newly red walls and carpeting.
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