I wrote a piece for the Washington Post on Sunday that turned out much differently from what I had intended to write. A man with mental illness was fatally shot by a Fairfax County police officer. The police were looking for him because he was suspected of taking flowers from a planter outside an area shop.
I decided to use this horrific incident to explain how important it is for the police to get Crisis Intervention Training, which teaches officers how to handle persons with mental disorders with a minimum of force.
But as I began investigating the shooting, I had another thought — and I also got upset.
Why is it that when we hear about someone with a mental illness being shot by the police, we assume that the shooting victim was acting oddly, was dangerous, and that the shooting was probably his own fault?
In this incidence, the man’s mental health diagnosis was not revealed until the day after the shooting. I suspect that as soon as the words “mental illness” were linked to this case, the shooting turned from “Why would the police shoot someone for taking a handful of flowers” to “Oh, the guy was crazy so he must have had it coming.”
This is wrong and it is stigmatizing. No one should assume that just because a person has a mental illness, that he or she is out of control. My son, Mike, has a mental illness, but when he is taking his medication, he is absolutely fine.
The Fairfax County prosecutor has decided against filing charges against the police. I wonder if he would have filed charges if the deceased had not been labeled as a “mentally ill man.” I wonder if our community would have been more outraged?
You can read the OP ED here.
About the author:
Our outrage and cries continue to be muffled by the louder more empowered and less marginalized people who dominate our world. We must continue to educate and enlighten everyone. You, Pete, have weathered the struggle for so long and still are challenged and frustrated. Bravo for your heroic efforts!
Thank you for listing SARDAA on your website. You enabled one of your viewers to find SARDAA and allowed her to participate in the Friends and Family Support Conference Call.
I read the FBI is investigating this incident. Is that true?
Great piece, Pete. Here's a comment I posted to your Washington Post op-ed:
The commenters defending the prosecutor and police here expressly state that the author and those who agree with him have no understanding of the police and the dangers they face. That is blatantly untrue. If understanding is the issue, I would cordially invite these same individuals to learn about mental illness. It's everywhere and it's very close to you if you open your eyes to it. Moreover, no one is immune from it – not even “normal” people.
Public safety is a major issue, but heaven help your personal safety if you just happen to panic behind the wheel of a vehicle and you fail to control your fear and agitation. A uniformed man with a gun is approaching. You've lost your ability to stay calm or even follow simple instructions. In that situation, you better pray to God that the officer has had CIT training. You better pray to God that officials who represent you and your fellow citizens hold that officer accountable for his actions. You better pray to God that the public – which includes your friends and family and neighbors and colleagues – understands you. Otherwise, you – yes you, Mr Normal – are just a nutjob who pissed off a cop. Are you ready to live in that kind of world?
Also, check out two blog pieces based on your account at Knowledge is Necessity:
http://knowledgeisnecessity.blogspot.com/
And here we go again… Ian Smith, shot on Feb. 5th by Fairfax Co. police. They had a Temporary Detainment Order from the magistrate, claimed he had a gun and were concerned for his safety… family says it was an unloaded BB gun.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar…
There's a Facebook page with info. asking people to pray for him:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=296848…
Our headline this morning is”Man Shot by police had acted strangely” Courier-Journal Louisville Ky
The story is not new and the histories are never clearly investigated beyond past legal problems. And yet this 48 year old man(Donnie Miles) is dead and his neighbors all say “he was sweet people.” And the telling paragraph is, “Candell(neighbor) said she had never had any difficulties with Miles before Saturday night, and that he mostly kept to himself after his mother, who lived with him in the public housing complex, died about two years ago.” Similar situation placed Nathaniel Ayers on the street – his mother died and noone picked up the slack! A person with a mental illness is vulnerable without some sanctuary and some support. Tis also a message to me, a mother, to get my son out as soon as I can find something safe here for him if it exists. I am even open to the idea of hiring someone to come into our home to assist. Yet, my husband and I know that our son needs more than just us and our home. We will not always be able to be his safety net. He is still very isolated other than when we bring family in. He's 'sweet people' too although he has done reckless driving and other things. And he has had 5 tasers aimed at him and still not gotten out of his car – maybe that was smart – at least my son is still alive.(in my living room now and playing a few notes on a harmonica to the parakeets we bought him for Christmas) I have heard it called “death by cop” and you know what it means. When these, our most vulnerable who can't function without support are expected to lead lives we 'normal' folk do these results are not uncommon. Do you have a book on these deaths around the country – there are many of them and people need to know.
Ian is fighting for his life at fairfax hospital today after a police officer shot him at close range three or more times to his chest and stomach – Ian had a toy bbgun in his hand at the time in our house – I spoke with a reporter the new true article should be coming out this thursday – i will never understand why this happened – our family is struggling and trying to focus just on Ian right now but the thought of what happened in our home haunts me
Ian is fighting for his life at fairfax hospital today after a police officer shot him at close range three or more times to his chest and stomach – Ian had a toy bbgun in his hand at the time in our house – I spoke with a reporter the new true article should be coming out this thursday – i will never understand why this happened – our family is struggling and trying to focus just on Ian right now but the thought of what happened in our home haunts me