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After weeks of nationwide protests calling for police reform, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller announced the city is creating an alternative department to respond to non-violent calls, like those dealing with mental health and homelessness.
Keller said this first-of-its-kind program is a unique solution to a number of challenges the Albuquerque Police Department is facing.
"This would be a third branch of our public safety department," Keller said. "What we found over lots of research actually is that there is a real need for folks who are experts in things like homelessness, behavioral health, mental health instead of police or fire."
Keller said the program, which they're calling the Albuquerque Community Safety Department, will allow un-armed professionals to show up to scenes for non-violent crimes, rather than armed police officers. These professionals will respond to calls on homelessness, addiction, mental health, & other issues. Citizens will still be able to call 911 to report a problem, but from the initial intake process their call could be rerouted to ACS.
Why don’t you think it will end well? They aren’t disbanding their police department, like so many Republicans have been saying they will. Let the police deal with violent crimes and reports of violent behavior, and let someone who is trained to deal with issues of homelessness and mental health deal with those calls. This is not quite as drastic as talking about getting rid of a police department. The problem is police are expected to deal with such a wide array of problems that they often aren’t properly trained for.
Let the police deal with violent crimes and reports of violent behavior, and let someone who is trained to deal with issues of homelessness and mental health deal with those calls.
A majority of instances of people dealing with someone with mental issues end with the person becoming violent and or combative/unreasonable. Unless of course, both a safety person and an officer show up, but the officer stays behind in his car in case something was to go south.
A majority of instances of people dealing with someone with mental issues end with the person becoming violent and or combative/unreasonable. Unless of course, both a safety person and an officer show up, but the officer stays behind in his car in case something was to go south.
That’s definitely a good compromise in that situation. It does make sense to have a police nearby in situations that can escalate. I do think that the police are responsible for too many things that are outside their wheelhouse of expertises. I think it’s good that another department is being created to take some of the ease of the police in these situations.
That’s definitely a good compromise in that situation. It does make sense to have a police nearby in situations that can escalate. I do think that the police are responsible for too many things that are outside their wheelhouse of expertises. I think it’s good that another department is being created to take some of the ease of the police in these situations.
Here's the big thing. The criminal element will still find a way to take advantage with this loosening of protocol. The only question is to what extreme leftists will look to restrict law enforcement going forward. If Biden wins, expect crime to triple in the US, as they will be heavily emboldened.
I mean...it’s not really going well now, though is it?
..okay, i'm with ya...let's get rid of all the cops...but first...every local, county, federal gun law gets tossed out the window and the only document you will need to purchase a firearm is the 2nd amendment..
That'll really last when the violent bums, druggies, wackos and domestic abusers kill off a few defenseless "social workers". Just how many will have to die before people wake up and realize just how stupid this really is?
That'll really last when the violent bums, druggies, wackos and domestic abusers kill off a few defenseless "social workers". Just how many will have to die before people wake up and realize just how stupid this really is?
Like all Leftist ideas, they never really solve the original problem but end up creating new ones.
I mean...it’s not really going well now, though is it?
Exactly. What we have seen is some horrific trigger-happy responses to situations that could have been defused by someone with some patience and knowledge of conflict resolution. Police are stressed out and just want the episode to be over. If you send a SWAT team to solve a problem with a mentally disturbed person, the problem often gets worse instead of better. There is a saying that if your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Mayor Keller is trying to expand the toolbox... Worth a try because it can't be worse than what we have now.
If your city is paying out thousands or millions in court settlements from inappropriate or heavy-handed police responses, this might be a way to avoid a few unwarranted deaths. I would think that the police might welcome the change if they can focus on murders, rapes, and serious assaults.
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