The bad thing about having trained social workers for mental health crisises is they are unarmed. Is bringing a firearm to a mental health crisis in 90% of them? No probably not. But in that 10% if you don’t have one, that social worker is most likely going in a casket.
It all boils down to cops deal with situations 99% won’t in our lifetime. Everyone wants to arm chair quarter back but what would you really do? Cops probably don’t want to kill anybody like we wouldn’t want to, but in those moments were a weapon is present, or it’s a strong arm situation, what would you really do? Substance abuse, it’s never talked about but it’s a big part of a lot of these situations.
Sure we want these people to get help, but in the moment, these people do not see things the same way you or I do. We might think about our families, but for them that drug or alcohol is at the forefront of their mind and is in the drivers seat. You aren’t toe to toe with a person like you or I, you are toe to toe with an addict that will do ANYTHING and with that, officers deserve some credit when it comes to situational judgement.
Are they perfect? Nope, but neither are you or I. But we are all human.
The bad thing about having trained social workers for mental health crisises is they are unarmed. Is bringing a firearm to a mental health crisis in 90% of them? No probably not. But in that 10% if you don’t have one, that social worker is most likely going in a casket.
It all boils down to cops deal with situations 99% won’t in our lifetime. Everyone wants to arm chair quarter back but what would you really do? Cops probably don’t want to kill anybody like we wouldn’t want to, but in those moments were a weapon is present, or it’s a strong arm situation, what would you really do? Substance abuse, it’s never talked about but it’s a big part of a lot of these situations.
Sure we want these people to get help, but in the moment, these people do not see things the same way you or I do. We might think about our families, but for them that drug or alcohol is at the forefront of their mind and is in the drivers seat. You aren’t toe to toe with a person like you or I, you are toe to toe with an addict that will do ANYTHING and with that, officers deserve some credit when it comes to situational judgement.
Are they perfect? Nope, but neither are you or I. But we are all human.