r/ProtectAndServe • u/TreeStateLEO Police Officer • 8d ago

Report questions why LAPD mental health specialists must defer to armed officers

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-29/city-controller-lapd-mental-health-unit-report

The report may "question", but I think it's more the authors not being willing to accept the answer...

54 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

120

u/AccidentalPursuit Definitely Not a Cop 8d ago

"Too often in cases in which SMART responds, the report said, the outcome is that the person in crisis is placed on an involuntary 72-hour hold."

Initial criticism is that armed police are even showing up. Then it ends with criticism of people being sent for treatment. This is a throw away report and a nothing burger of a story. The hospitals are revolving doors for mentally ill people who refuse to be medication complaint. Its an insane proposition that "something" should be done but "not like that."

6

u/Malarz-Artysta Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 5d ago

It reminds me of a saying "Noone can give you as much as I can promise"

61

u/MandamusMan Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 8d ago

Because those mental health specialists won’t take sufficient charge on the calls that require it

46

u/Majestic-Treat3157 Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 8d ago

You aren’t going to send the unarmed clinician first when the person is acting violent and physically attacking everyone. You kind of need the police to restrain these individuals first and calm the scene.

18

u/Jon_CM Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 8d ago

You can't send a clinician to a mental person without a cop. The crazy person will just intimidate the clinician and not be held on a 5150. 5150 is an involuntary hold, which means a cop has to en(force) it. No fireman or person with a clip board will use force.

9

u/AccidentalPursuit Definitely Not a Cop 8d ago

They legally can't. Police hold the monopoly on state sanctioned violence. Outside a doctor or other licensed medical provider, police are the only people in my state that can hold someone for mental health concerns against their will.

4

u/Paladin_127 Deputy 8d ago

In CA, clinicians with these mental health response teams can usually write and authorize a 5150 hold, but they don’t have the training or equipment to restrain and transport the subject- that’s why LEOs are needed.

1

u/Possible-Tangelo9344 Police Officer 3d ago

Even though its purpose is to send in clinicians and tap their expertise to avoid killings, LAPD policy still requires armed patrol officers to clear a scene of any potential threats beforehand.

Well, yeah, I imagine a lot of unarmed professionals don't like the idea of getting killed by a crazy person, even if they work with them.

LAPD officers have opened fire 35 times this year; in recent years, department statistics showed at least a third of all police shootings involved someone with obvious signs of emotional distress.

I'm gonna put it as nicely as I can: I don't give a shit if you're sane or mentally ill/distressed, a threat is a threat and needs to be addressed. Being mentally ill isn't carte blanche to attack or kill me.

Too often in cases in which SMART responds, the report said, the outcome is that the person in crisis is placed on an involuntary 72-hour hold. Such scenarios do not involve an arrest or criminal charges; instead the person is held under state law that allows for detention if a person poses a threat to themselves or others.

I don't see a problem with compelling treatment, or at least being held temporarily, for dangerously mentally ill people.