Mental health training for law enforcement is key to handling crises

As people paid their respects to U.S. Capitol Police Officer Billy Evans, his death and the death of his assailant, Noah Green, were a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every day, and the complexities associated with individuals suffering a mental health crisis.

As a law enforcement professional for more than 40 years who watched his sister-in-law suffer for decades with severe schizophrenia, and later schizoaffective disorder — and having personally dealt with many such situations in the field — I am familiar with the actions and dangers that people suffering mental health crises can pose to themselves and others. Unfortunately, much of the public does not understand these dangers. Some view law enforcement officers as “escalators” to people suffering mental health crises and believe that only mental health professionals are equipped to de-escalate potentially dangerous or deadly situations.

As we observed on April 2, when Green’s car rammed a Capitol barricade, these situations can become complex and have fatal consequences. While there is no single or simple solution to handling most mental health crises, empathy and de-escalation, when appropriate, are usually the best approaches. However, dangerous situations often require the immediate use of force to protect and save lives.