So how does that save $$. Defunding the police would leave the social worker more exposed because you took the funding for that officer and moved it to the social worker. The social worker just isn't the right person in this scenario.
I fully agree that the police aren't the right people to handle most mental illness related calls. But in my experience working with hospitals, most mental illness related calls aren't limited to conditions linked to their illness. There is usually a safety concern to themselves or to others aspect to it that requires some involuntary custody/treatment. Instead of NOT sending the police, a better option would be to send paramedics along with the police.
^^^^^^^^^^^
I couldn't tell you how many calls I saw for pick up orders (where a judge has determined an involuntary commitment is necessary) on mentally deranged persons. Or responses where individuals are talked down from hurting themselves or others. These people would be transported to the ER 99% of the time. They were either released by the doctor a few hours later simply because either no room for them at hospital (usually only have one rubber room and are told to followup at a small state run facility nearby), doctor finds person is not a danger to themselves or others, or no response from social services (DSS).
Usually the ER would just refill their meds if they were on any. Most of the mentally ill have been left behind by state budgets, and lack of facilities to go for treatment that aren't private a few decades ago. Most of the persons impacted are unisured or on medicaid.
Instead of yelling at LEO agencies on this issue people should yell at their legislative bodies or belly up and donate to fund private facilities for vulnerable mentally ill people like the homeless, or start accepting that significant tax increases are required to fund places like the old mental hospital on Bull Street.
Prime example of stupidity by government trying to save a buck (that the public went along with) was when the state of SC stopped cutting grass on the interstates for a few years.
Also, this applies to teachers as well where the public just expected them to be the parent of their child while at work. There are so many resources that could be utilized, but under funded because of ridiculous costs for unnecessary crap.
Cops were sent to handle calls that they were really never intended to handle. Cops should be there for criminal complaints only not all this other BS that wastes resources and time.
Parents today are just not equipped to handle their kids it seems (most are lazy). Way to quick to make it someone else's problem. Tax payers just need to fork out the money.
Sending a social worker to a drunk call is just ridiculous and stupid. Just lock them up, put them in a cab, or call EMS to transport. Most of the time you are saving a drunk from either becoming a crime victim (mugging, assault, fighting, etc), hurting themselves (injuries), or hurting others (DUI).
Edit: Now these have been my experiences in SC. I am sure in large densely populated and liberal corrupt controlled sh$t hole cities like Baltimore, Philly, NYC, LA this is probably not the case.
