Porter Burks
Detroit: Burks, 22, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was experiencing a mental health crisis Oct. 2 when his family called the police, asking for help. Body-camera footage from a crisis intervention team (CIT) officer on hand shows Burks standing in the middle of the street while officers offer him help several times and ask him to put the knife […]
Officer convicted in fatal shooting of man with disabilities
A California police officer was convicted Tuesday of assault with a firearm in the 2018 fatal shooting of an unarmed mentally ill man who was shot nine times while driving away from police in a wealthy San Francisco suburb. After deliberating barely two days, the jury delivered a split verdict in the case against Officer […]
LAPD Being Sued for Killing Man Struggling with Mental Health
Victor Valencia was a 31 year-old Latino man mistaken for an armed Black man. Police were called and fatally shot Victor who was actually carrying a bicycle part. The son and parents of Victor Valencia, allege in their lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, that Victor presented no threat and that his rights were violated […]
Police officer fatally shooting disabled man after being told to leave
Patrick Lynn Warren Senor was experiencing a mental health crisis so his family called 911. The Warren family requested a mental health professional, however, a police officer arrived instead. When the officer, Reynaldo Contreras, arrived, the family told Contreras to leave after he exhibited a hostile demeanor. Contreras returned and Warren Sr. answered the door, […]
State College Protest Demanding Police Reform After Killing of Man with Disability
Osaze was 29-years old and diagnosed with autism and schizophrenia when three officers with a mental health warrant fatally shot him. An investigation by state police cleared the officers involved of any wrongdoing. A 24-hour protest lead by the 3/20 coalition called on the borough to meet demands stemming from the police shooting of Osaze […]
Police Killing of man with psychiatric disability ruled justified
(Ontario, Canada) Abdirahman Abdi was a 37 year old black man with a disability when he was approached by police. He was beaten and pepper-sprayed by a officer and left head-down in a pool of blood for over 10 minutes. He died shortly after paramedics took him to the hospital. The Ontario police officer was […]
Racial Bias in police killings of older people with disabilities
People with disabilities are 16 times more likely to be killed from police than non-disabled people. However, this is an average among those with disabilities. If you are a Black man over age 54 the likelihood is even higher. A study was published in the journal, Annals of Epidemiology, that focused on the inequities of […]
Police Reform Bill Signed into Law in California
People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by police killings. Today Governor Newsom of California signed a bill into law “that requires the California Attorney General to investigate police killings of unarmed civilians, removing the duty from local officials.” This will make police more accountable for their actions. While this is a step in the right […]
Alternatives to Police Response for Psychiatric Disabilities
(San Mateo, CA) Police responded to a 9-1-1 call about a person walking through traffic. When police arrived, they found Chinedu Okobi who was an unarmed 36-year old Black man with a psychiatric disability. Shortly after police confronted Chinedu, he was forced to the ground by 5 officers and tased a total of 7 times. […]
Police Cover-up for Beating Man with Psychiatric Disability to Death
Blanca Briceno called police to help with her son who was experiencing an episode from schizophrenia. When police arrived Eric Briceno, her son, was sleeping. Despite being asleep, the police began beating Eric. Eric died from this attack. An autopsy report confirmed that Eric was punched, pepper-sprayed and shot with a taser seven or eight […]