What prompted this partnership was the death of both an officer (Lieutenant Michael Padula) and his attacker (Deborah Stagg), in a 1996 barricaded suspect incident. ![]() As early as 1998 calls from EDPs were the “largest number of non-criminal calls received by the Ithaca Police Department.” In response, the Department built a relationship between community policing officers and mental health professionals that successfully decreased the number of EDP calls and eliminated many of the chronic calls. Ithaca, New York likely reflects the range of challenges faced in many jurisdictions. ![]() Officers are rightly wary and have legitimate safety concerns every time they respond to EDP-related calls. However, in the most difficult of circumstances officers discover that these individuals can be a threat to themselves or others. Estimates suggest only about 1 percent of those suffering from mental health issues are dangerous. In fact, it’s more likely they will be victims, not suspects. This doesn’t mean that these individuals have committed a crime when law enforcement officers contact them, an important distinction that Gary Klugiewicz pointed out in an article written by PoliceOne’s Doug Wyllie last May. ![]() 90 percent of those who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder.One-half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24.5.2 million Americans have co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders.2.6 percent of Americans have a bipolar disorder.About 2.4 million Americans live with schizophrenia.One in four adults experience a mental health disorder in a given year.The National Alliance on Mental Illness maintains that: Even with legitimate concerns about faddish over-diagnosis the numbers are staggering. With more than 300 diagnosed mental disorders - the professionals aren’t even sure of the exact number - it’s not surprising that police often contact those with emotional or behavioral problems. Law enforcement officers also provide a sizable number of mental health referrals because they are often the first to respond to EDP generated complaints. ![]() In some jurisdictions, EDP-related calls may be one of the largest number of non-criminal calls received by law enforcement. Research suggests that persons with developmental disabilities and other mental issues are seven times more likely to come in contact with law enforcement than others. Consequently, cops need to have at least a basic understanding of how to communicate with Emotionally Disturbed Persons (EDPs) in order to diffuse possible violent encounters. Though officers are not and should not be street-corner psychologists, the fact is that they come in daily contact with people who have a variety of emotional problems. Lessard made it more difficult for family and mental health professionals to place individuals into treatment and has left this responsibility - by and large - to the police. 957), the police have been in the front lines of our society’s struggle with mental illness. Ever since the United States Supreme Court’s 19 double remands in Lessard v Schmidt (414 U.
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