Part of the problem is time and again police everywhere respond to calls they're not trained to handle. An emotionally distraught person, unless armed, doesn't need a police officer they need someone who is trained to talk to them and reel them in.
Many times in dealing with EDPs police do only what they know and that's to restrain and arrest the person then they get put in the court system which is also undertrained for these situations and overtaxed by them. Sometimes due to improper training police have actually escalated EPD calls and they've caused serious injuries or deaths.
Police should handle crimes and criminals, people crying out emotionally for help don't need a cop they need a counselor.
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