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 […]
This police chief’s reforms could be a model for other communities
But do we need another database of disabled people? CNN: “Police encounters with people dealing with mental health issues can go very wrong, very quickly. Often, the presence of a law enforcement officer can escalate the situation. “A lot of people with special needs may not react very well to a police in uniform, but they […]
NSW Pilot Study Shows People with Disabilities are Much Likelier Victims to Violence
A pilot study conducted by the NSW (New South Wales) Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) found that people living with disability are more than twice as likely to be the victims of violent crimes compared to the total NSW population. The pilot study found that 17% of people accessing a disability support were […]
Ian Fackender
Coroner finds fatal police shooting of man with schizophrenia experiencing psychosis was preventable.
Police Response and Transportation Reform for LA Metro
New CEO Stephanie Wiggins announced Wesnesday that LA Metro officials will stop focusing on law enforcement as a primary way response for homeless people within the transportation system. This announcement came after the introduction of the 23-month pilot program that would make buses and trains free for students in the short-term and free for low-income […]
Washington State Signs Multiple Police Reform Bills into Law
Washington state Governor, Jay Inslee, signed a dozen police reforms bills into law on Tuesday, May 18th. The legislature passed the police accountability measures in response to sweeping calls, nationally and locally, to reform policing following the killings of Black Americans like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. In Washington, the death of Manuel Ellis at […]
Teenager with Disabilities Assaulted by Police
Adam Wolf says his son, a 17-year old with autism and ADHD, was assaulted by a Californian officer. The officer was responding to a report of a possible assault and believed Wolf’s son was the suspect. “The officer asked the suspect to sit down, which he did. When the police officer took out his handcuffs, […]
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, […]
Police officers throwing disabled man out of his wheelchair
There was protest outside the Cape Town police station. During the protest, Cape Town metro police were caught on video tossing a disabled man out of his wheelchair after a verbal altercation with him. An officer proceeded to kick the disabled man while he was on the ground. Afterwards the officers destroyed the wheelchair. No […]