Message to the New San Jose Police Chief: Bring Sensitivity to Mental Health Clients

Message to the Next San Jose Police Chief 2010 from DE BUG on Vimeo.

Message to the New San Jose Police Chief: Train Officers to be Sensitive to Those with Mental Health Issues

By Richard Babcock

The next chief of police needs to have sensitivity towards those with mental illness. I say this because I am bipolar and have lived in San Jose for 22 years. During this time I have had about six visits to the mental hospital. Each time the police have taken me because I was obviously ill. My illness makes me delusional. People notice and call the police. I have even called them myself knowing that I am not in my right mind. Most of the contact with the police has been good with kind and considerate treatment. But a couple of times I was treated not like a sick person but a violent person – a criminal. I wasn't violent in any of the instances. I was just delusional. I guess the police officers may have thought I was a wise guy and not really sick. The first time I was roughed up and taken to the county jail and booked. The next morning after being booked I was taken directly to Emergency Psychiatric Services at Don Low Pavilion in San Jose. The other time I was abused physically. I was in handcuffs and slammed into a house and a squad car because, I believe, I wasn't answering questions correctly. Normally, I would give correct answers but I was ill and not thinking straight.

I am expecting the next San Jose Police Chief to ensure that every officer is educated about dealing with community members who have mental health needs. Certainly, this new chief will have to have shown an understanding of these issues before they are hired. I have heard of others with mental illness having bad contact with the police as well.

My expectation is that the new police chief show sensitivity to the mentally ill population and see that police officers under his command not treat those who are subject to a 5150 call (the code for a psychiatric hold) with physical punishment or abuse. Sick people need considerate care I those instances.

I'm sure it is hard to understand the mentally ill when they are having difficulties. That may have been why there has been abuse, but also highlights the new chief to train officers in understanding the signs of mental illness and how to deal with those exhibiting symptoms. Investing resources in this education can improve community relations, and perhaps even save lives.

To me, the measure to judge the progress of the new chief on this issue will be the decreasing reports of the mentally ill being shot or tased by the police on the news and in my community. And also, I am hoping to hear good reports about our contact with the police.