Tyrant Cops and Mental Health Calls
Tyrant cops are those who abuse their power and authority, often disregarding the rights and well-being of civilians. When dealing with individuals struggling with mental health issues, tyrant cops may exacerbate the situation through intimidation, aggression, or violence rather than employing de-escalation techniques or seeking appropriate mental health resources.
Their handling of such calls can be characterized by a lack of empathy, understanding, and patience. Instead of approaching the situation with sensitivity and compassion, they may resort to excessive force or coercion, leading to harmful outcomes for both the individual in crisis and the officers involved.
This being said, the example of Erica’s situation featured on this website speaks volumns to this unfortunate crisis. In her situation, the crisis team was called to help her during a C-PTSD crisis by her Dad. The CHR worker showed up with a local police officer. Erica did not fit the requirements for a manditory 72 hour hold, but she did voluntarily agree to go to the hospital, the officer wrongfully interjected himself into an otherwise peaceful outcome that resulted in her C-PTSD being triggered. This resulted in two officers being hurt. The one officer caused harm to himself and the other officer when his only job was to be there as a watch over the CHR worker.
This behavior not only fails to address the root cause of the individual’s distress but also perpetuates a cycle of trauma and distrust between law enforcement and the community, particularly among marginalized groups who are disproportionately affected by police brutality and misconduct.
It’s important to recognize that not all law enforcement officers engage in tyrannical behavior, and many are trained to respond to mental health crises with empathy and respect. However, systemic issues within policing, including inadequate training and lack of accountability, contribute to instances where individuals in need of assistance are met with aggression rather than support.
