Sarah Taylor May 11, 2021
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) has announced a new pilot program that will direct some 911 emergency calls to mental health professionals in lieu of notifying law enforcement officials. According to a report from WJZ-TV, 911 dispatchers in the city receive about 36 emergency mental health calls a day. Those calls will now go to dedicated mental health counselors trained in conflict resolution.
"Think about the sheer number of hours that our police officers are actually out dealing with something that they're not trained to do, versus being out there going after someone who's committed an armed carjacking," Scott reasoned. Last week, The Baltimore Sun reported that the program — 911 Diversion Pilot — "aims to connect callers with the most appropriate resources and responses for their needs."
The outlet cited a 2015 study from the Treatment Advocacy Center that found "people with untreated mental illness were more likely to die during an altercation with police officers than those without mental illness."...........To Read More....
My Take - And who exactly are these "counselors". Was anyone amongst this group asked if they thought this was a good idea? I can just see it now. A call comes in about a deranged and angry drug dealer, or a deranged rapist, or a drunk beating his girlfriend or wife, all potentially armed to the teeth being confronted by a mental health "counselor" who asks them to stop doing what their doing and be good little boys and girls. Really? I gotta see this! And I hope the mayor of Baltimore is going to be right there by their side to show just what a good idea this is. Yeah, right, don't bet on that.
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