Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

NY rolls out police training for handling disabled

Excerpt from: 10tv.com (click for full article)

 

New York state is rolling out first-of-its-kind sensitivity training statewide to help some police officers better identify and interact with people with developmental disabilities.

The First Responders Disability Awareness Training, offered this week in Dutchess County, provides training exercises and protocols on how to assist individuals across the disability spectrum. The Train the Trainer session is open to all in law enforcement, with one stipulation: They must share the course with their police agency.

The training, through Niagara University, is not mandated by the state. However, a council under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office made the course a funding priority and stressed its importance.

"The time has come" for this type of training, said Sheila Carey, executive director of the state Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, which funded the program and extended the initial $650,000 three-year grant through 2015.

New York state has no overarching protocols for arresting and criminally charging suspects with developmental disabilities, said state Division of Criminal Justice Services spokeswoman Janine Kava, adding "agencies have their own guidelines." And state police training on mental illness and developmental disabilities —a physical or mental impairment —is one and the same, state police said.

Homicide Ruled After Man With Down Syndrome Restrained

Excerpt from: Disability Scoop (click for full article)

 

There are more questions than answers following the death of a 26-year-old with Down syndrome at the hands of law enforcement who were called in when the man refused to leave a movie theater.

Authorities say that Robert Ethan Saylor went to see “Zero Dark Thirty” at a Frederick, Md. movie theater last month, but when the film ended he wanted to see it again and refused to leave. At that point, three off-duty sheriff’s deputies, who were providing security at the venue, were called in.

It’s unclear exactly what happened next, but ultimately Saylor was restrained by the deputies and began showing signs of a medical problem. He was pronounced dead not long after.

Now a medical examiner has ruled the death a homicide and his family is looking for answers. They say that Saylor idolized law enforcement and the family indicated that an aide was with the young man at the movies, saying that they could have been called to assist.

Snyder orders mental health services review

Excerpt from: Michigan Radio (click for full article)

 

Governor Rick Snyder has called for a review of how Michigan provides mental health services.

The governor has signed two executive orders to come up with recommendations.The executive orders create two separate commissions.

Both of them will be led by Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley.

One major goal is to identify gaps that send people to jails and prisons instead of to programs that could treat their illnesses.

The plans also include teaching police, teachers, and clergy to spot signs of mental illness, earlier intervention for children with mental health issues, and helping more people get into treatment instead of being sent to jail or prison.

5 Times Police Killed People with Mental Disabilities

Excerpt from: AlterNet (click for full article)

 

The case of a young man with Down syndrome who was asphyxiated while in police custody last week has spiraled into a shocking national news story--yet another police scandal coming just on the heels of suspicions that LAPD plotted to burn Dorner alive. The tragedy began when 26-year-old Minnesota resident Robert Saylor was reluctant to leave a movie theater, prompting employees to call the police. Without stopping to learn from Saylor’s aide that he had Down syndrome, the police handcuffed him and restrained him on the ground until he died of asphyxiation . 

The case, which has been ruled a homicide, has sparked outrage and fear among parents and allies of those with developmental disabilities, as well as those with mental illness. Yet, this is far from the first time that the police of state officials have mishandled interactions with those with disabilities, with tragic results. As the Center for Public Representation writes, there are “significant patterns in police killings of people with psychiatric disabilities.”

Video training for Police and First Responders

Excerpt from: Law Office of Matthew Stoloff (click for full article)

 

 

What You Should Know and Do If Arrested

Excerpt from: Lawyers.com (click for full article)

 

Being arrested or detained by the police is a frightening experience. Here are a few things you should know.

An arrest occurs when a law enforcement officer takes you into custody and you are not free to go. If you are suspected of being involved in a crime, you can also be legally detained for a short period of time for questioning without being arrested.

To arrest you, the officer needs probable cause and an arrest warrant. The most notable exception to this rule is when the officer sees you commit a crime.

 1. A Warrant Is Usually Required

 2. Miranda Rights Must Be Read

 3. Do Not Resist Arrest

4. Permission Usually Needed to Search

5. You Get One Phone Call

Mentally ill man jailed 3 weeks ‘should never have been arrested,’ brother says

Excerpt from: The Vancouver Sun (click for full article)

 

“I think the process was followed where the individual was arrested for failing to identify himself, or obstruction. Certainly on the surface, our officers aren’t in a position to make an assessment whether they are dealing with someone with a mental illness in the first instance. Then through that process, as a result of coming before the courts, it then became clear as to what may be impacting his behaviour, thus the next steps were taken for an assessment to be done, which is the way the process should work.”

Immediate help can be offered to people when they are arrested by police under the Mental Health Act, “but that wasn’t the case here,” Thiessen said.

“If we had initiated an arrest under the Mental Health Act, then different mechanisms would come into play,” he added.

Dont Talk to Police

A law school professor and former criminal defense attorney tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police.