BBM
How would you like to face one of these people and not be allowed to defend yourself? I wonder, would you just stand there and meekly allow them to hurt or kill you? Or would you pull the weapon that you have been trained to use and use it to defend yourself from harm?
This was my reality for years. As I just mentioned in a prior post, I worked on an adult in-patient locked psychiatric unit of a regular hospital.
We faced this potential every day. Street drugs have really changed the face of the physical dangers to mental health staff now.
To find yourself suddenly face to face with a mentally ill person who is floridly psychotic with hallucinations, paranoia, and rage, is beyond terrifying.
Sometimes the security staff were on our unit more than they weren't.
The difference for us though was that we were certain the patients had no weapons. ( They were thoroughly checked by two staff before admission to the unit. )
We didn't have any weapons either of course, but we utilized specific techniques learned during mandatory training, to subdue the patient as a team without harm to them or us. Easier said than done at times.
LE does not have that same luxury we did. I understand that. Therefore, I hesitate to criticize them without knowing the individual situation.
At the same time, I am totally in favor of LE implementation of improved management skills for the mentally ill.
It is truly heartbreaking to see just how vulnerable the mentally ill are...
ETA: This may be off topic. Please feel free to delete...
JMO