[retiredguy123]

Disorderly intoxication
Intoxication
Mental health crisis
Drug overdose
Disorderly juvenile
Homeless complaint
Panhandling
Neighborhood dispute

I wouldn't consider these to be non-violent situations. And, some of them are actual crimes, like disorderly intoxication and panhandling. Crimes require someone who can enforce the law, not a social worker. And a drug overdose or mental health crisis requires an ambulance with medical personnel.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Disorderly intoxication
Intoxication
Mental health crisis
Drug overdose
Disorderly juvenile
Homeless complaint
Panhandling
Neighborhood dispute

I wouldn't consider these to be non-violent situations. And, some of them are actual crimes, like disorderly intoxication and panhandling. Crimes require someone who can enforce the law, not a social worker. And a drug overdose or mental health crisis requires an ambulance with medical personnel.

Does anyone think that social workers will want to be doing this when they start getting hurt or killed?

[Dilligas]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

You beat me to this.

How can politicians be so stupid and irresponsible

Their reason for the move is BLM, the most racist organization around.....all lives matter.

They are politicians.....in the job to get re-elected.

Very few are there for the good of the citizens. Political Correctness has taken over in Federal, State, and Local governments.

Most politicians have no other experience than political campaigns and community organizing.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by mamamia54

It seems all the the things the social workers will be handling can go south pretty quick. I wonder how the social workers feel about it. I’m sure after the first call where one gets hurt or killed, they will rethink that ridiculous idea. To me, the whole idea of defunding and dismantling the police is ridiculous.

There is some truth to the, "there may be problems" comments that many are writing. But, there are 2 sides and gray areas to EVERY debate. One factor is obvious-people initially react badly to change. That's why the conservative viewpoint is easier to win in a debate. Change is FRIGHTENING to many people. For example, the 1st Black president was always swimming upstream. I saw flags in conservative areas of Tn be taken down immediately after Obama won. Obama Care is now shredded as retribution against change. Change frightens many. The Villages has an older population. Older populations skew to the right of center politically. Just a fact. Then, older people prefer older ways of doing almost everything, myself included. Progress is slow in the US. That is probably good most of the time. Other issues, for example, like in healthcare it is NOT good. WE in the US have a healthcare system tied NOT to logic or good medical principles, but to a tradition from pre WW2 of tying care to people's jobs-and that from a time when people stayed in ONE job for a lifetime. That is NOT even close to the modern job situation where people change jobs nimbly. Other world countries recognize this, not, unfortunately, the US. The point of all of this is that ALL issues have 2 sides and gray areas. I will opinionate specifically police and social workers later....to be continued

[Dilligas]

The best answer for this is to point everyone to watching A&E on Friday and Saturday nights when they have "Live PD". They follow police from 10 or 15 different cities on their shifts and the calls they get. Very few end in gun fights, instead most are intoxication and drug related calls, or a car pulled over for a violation to find intoxication and/or drug problems from abuse to trafficing. Most of the officers are very professional and are trained to handle the social worker aspect. Once in a while, they have to subdue a suspect for a crime and are very cordial with them. They do get some that try to run or fight their way from being arrested, and many are drunk or on drugs when that happens. The energy the suspect develops is amazing agains two or more large trained officers. You will get a lot of respect for the difficult job the police have to do when you watch this show. On of the police departments they follow is Pasco County, on the north side of St. Petersburg.

[lkagele]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Does anyone think that social workers will want to be doing this when they start getting hurt or killed?

I'm sure in some instances, sending the wrong personnel will result in violence. Just the appearance of a police officer results in many of these people standing down. Those same people may react differently to an unarmed social worker.

"Stand down or I'll sentence you to 12 weeks of therapy" doesn't carry the same weight as, "Do you really want to be handcuffed and spend the night in jail?".

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Choro&Swing

Do you know the saying, “To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail”? That’s the problem with having cops handle these problems, we are told. I understand that cops are often not properly trained to act as counselors for these problems. Drunk? Cuff them! Mental health crisis? Use the Taser! Drug overdose? Take them to jail!

Well, of course, that’s not really the way it is. In most instances, they do a better job and make the right decisions and save lives. So is a social worker ready to handle any of these problems when people turn violent? Are they armed? Will they have police backup? Will someone with schizophrenia off his meds understand that this is a “safe” social worker? Would you be willing to handle these problems unarmed on the street or in someone’s house without backup? I wouldn’t!

Maybe what will happen is that one cop and one social worker will start riding together. Cop for handling violence and providing protection, social worker for people who need help solving, say, a homeless crisis or a reference to a drug counselor. Then the social worker would have protection, and the cop could avoid making things worse. But of course, then the cop would have no armed backup unless more cops were called in.

(My dad was the head chaplain for the Denver Police Department and carried a Lieutenant’s shield. He would ride a shift with any cop who wanted to talk, day or night. He didn’t want to carry a gun, so they compromised on his always carrying an Ultra-Stinger flashlight that could blind suspects for a few seconds and crack any skull if swung properly. Maybe social workers would carry these flashlights.)

Perhaps instead, cops should be required to have solid college coursework in social welfare and counseling and thorough training in de-escalation techniques. It would help a LOT if they would learn to speak with a calm, relaxing voice instead of shouting at people to get on the ground. I know a lot of the people cops deal with are low-lifes who treat them badly. That shouldn’t be. The lack of respect shown to police officers is at the root of the problem of “racist” cops. They learn that from how they are treated. I can’t blame them. They aren’t superheroes. But the cycle of abuse has to start somewhere, and it’s easier to train a thousand cops to calm down and de-escalate than train a hundred thousand angry people who have been taught from childhood to hate cops.

Great logic. Well written. Keep it up.

[Get real]

Originally Posted by sloanst

OK liberals. You wanted this. Time for you to step up and take point.

That is the funniest thing I have read all day. Thank you.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

It might help to see what the concept of "defunding" the police actually entails, because the word seems to be tripping everyone up. Here is what communities with defunded police departments actually look like, and the organization partly responsible for the success of the concept:

Defund police, as BLM wants? What it means in cities that have started

and

'CAHOOTS': How Social Workers And Police Share Responsibilities In Eugene, Oregon : NPR

and

the organization's website:

CAHOOTS | White Bird Clinic

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by stan the man

UK police officers do not carry guns on a regular basis...follow the mother country

I agree but the US is, unfortunately, awash in guns on the street. One of many problems and differences between the US and the UK, like National Health Care.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by rlcooper70

Have you done a bit of research on what happened with Camden NJ defunded the entire police department? They had 350 officers in 2010 and the entire county now has 401 (2018) ... crime is nearly half and cost is way down as the government pensions were "modified". And replacing "some" officers with social workers is very different than replacing the entire force. Ha ha. Or were you not aware that 25 is only 4.5% of the 562 police officers? Did you over-react? Shame on you.

I agree and clever rebuttal, kudos.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by banjobob

In regard to St Pete mayor's loonesy we are in a very safe location but armed and trained, should the perils of the mob of thugs come here.

Are we not men? Have we no empathy? Are we trigger happy? Is everything NEW a threat.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Dana1963

It works out so much better in Sumter County no matter what everyone gets jailed. For everyday you spend in jail a person is assessed $50 on top of fine. Then may get some type of mental health or substance abuse help usually these people have minimum paying job with no health insurance ultimately no counseling’s its a revolving door. The only help for offenders I have seen in our area is House of Hope prayer counseling.

That is sad! Are we too old for empathy? What would Jesus think?

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I agree but the US is, unfortunately, awash in guns on the street. One of many problems and differences between the US and the UK, like National Health Care.

Not only are there guns on the street, but I think there are even more guns in people's homes. And, that is where the unarmed social workers will need to go to respond to many of the 911 calls.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by allsport

Nurses have handled these situations for decades without fire power. Violent people cause violence and the police have escalated situations for years. Rarely in the ED did we need to call police and we had most of those situations present on a regular basis. Call when you need help.

Thanks for your comment and thanks for your life-giving service!