Three Police Officers Suspended After Shooting of Woman with Disabilities
Detroit’s police chief has suspended two officers and a supervisor following last week’s fatal police shooting of a woman suffering from mental illness. Detroit Police Chief James White said Monday he will recommend to the city’s Board of Police Commissioners that all three be suspended without pay. White took the steps after the woman became the […]
Family of Police Brutality Victim Suing Phoenix Police
Stanley Howard was 64 years-old when he was shot by Phoenix police on July 8th. Howard suffered from schizophrenia and depression. Howard was suffering from a mental health crisis and called police multiple times. When police arrived, they show Howard 10 times because he was holding a red, plastic water gun. The family filed a […]
The Problem with Police involved with mental health
People with disabilities or mental illness are 16 times more likely to die from a police encounter. “Many police departments do not provide sufficient training on how to respectfully and safely interact with people in crisis”. Many crisis response units have been popping up as an alternative to policing. The Mental Health First Oakland was […]
Deaf People Dealing With Police in the Era of Covid-19
“The overall approach of police officers to most situations generally is to perceive anything other than full and immediate compliance with verbal instructions or commands as intentional noncompliance.” says Howard Rosenblum, the chief executive officer of the National Association of the Deaf. “Such approaches … are not conducive to resolving communication issues with deaf and […]
Virginia Autism Project Supporting Bill for Reduced Penalty for Assaulting Police
(Richmond, VA) You will be charged with a 6-month mandatory minimum sentence in addition to a felony if you assault a police officer. Advocates for people with psychiatrics disabilities argue that assault can be easily misinterpreted. For example, James is a 27-year old with with autism. Due to his autism, he spits subconsciously which can […]
The Terror of Policing for People with Disabilities
People with disabilities make up 22% of deaths caused by police. In the past five years, 1,254 Americans with psychiatric disabilities have died from “police intervention”. Police are simply not equipped to deal with crisis intervention. Golda Barton called the emergency room requesting a crisis intervention team for her 13-year old son with autism. Her […]
The State of Mississippi Kicking Out Mentally Ill Patients from State Hospital
(Jackson, MI) After receiving a complaint that mentally ill patients from Mississippi State Hospital were being dropped indiscriminately around town, City Council President Aaron Banks of Ward 6 did surveillance at a popular drop-off street. City Council President Aaron then saw multiple “black unmarked cars with tinted windows” proceed to drop off several mentally ill […]