June 14, 2014, Oak Cliff area of Dallas TX, LEO's body cam video released in connection w family's civil suit against LE
"
Shirley Harrison called cops because her son was menacing her..." Son = 38 y/o, and "
bipolar and schizophrenic."
Vid shows her "
greeting police at her Oak Cliff, Tex., home." "
Jason Harrison is right behind her, casually holding a screw driver in his hand, the video shows."
Is it likewise accurate and fair to say that at that point, LEOs were
casually carrying their duty weapons on their duty belts?
LEOs asked/told him multiple times to put the screwdriver down.
"...
he lunged at them [LE] with a screwdriver..." and "
was gunned down by two officers."
"
The family, who obtained video recorded by one officer's body camera, argues that the police used excessive force.
"This is a perfect video for the Dallas Police Department to use in training as an example of what not to do," older brother
Sean Harrison told The Dallas Morning News. "You don't yell at them — that only agitates them." bbm sbm
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.2153201
Re this situation, IIHC, LEOs said they had bn to home
multiple times, similar calls, and last time son (or other at home)
displayed gun.
First this is a terrible shame. I cannot imagine being in the shoes of this family - not in any of the following:
1. bipolar and schizophrenic 38 y/o adult son living at home or
2. having on multiple occasions called 911 for police to respond to him menacing other members of household, or
3. being a family member who phoned for assistance from LE, who ended up shooting him, resulting in his death.
Doubtful that anyone wants to be a member of any one of those 'clubs' and certainly not a member of all three.
From many sources, I've read about deficient programs for treating mentally ill patients in US and do not doubt that the criticism.
I understand fam & friends cannot force person to seek diagnosis, to be treated, to take meds, to follow dr. orders, to be committed, etc.
But when ppl ask 911 for LE to respond to one of these fam situations,
what do they want and/or expect LEOs to do? IDK.
IIUC, callers usu have already asked, told, ordered demanded the person to not harm, to stop attacking, to take their meds, to go to ER, etc.
Who knows better than fam or household members what the prob is and how their behavior can be stopped or redirected? IDK.
What do callers expect LEOs to accomplish, that
they themselves cannot accomplish? IDK.
Besides calling 911 for LEOs, is there something else they can do?
Isn't part of the
rationale for calling to get assistance from ppl (LEOs) with
- means of encouraging or physically forcing compliance, to stop them from harming caller(s) & others?
- authority to arrest, perhaps take into custody, if appropriate?
Would it be approp for fed, st, muni law or PD policy to prohibit LEOs from using force in these situations?
IDTS, but IDK.