Dec. 16, 2020
PHOENIX – Protesters over the summer called for defunding Phoenix police, motivated in part by deep skepticism about officers’ ability to properly handle mental health crises.
Activists point to police shooting deaths of mentally ill Arizonans in the past as evidence that law enforcement officers need help defusing such situations.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office reports that there have been 51 shootings by law enforcement officers in the county so far in 2020, with 23 of those shootings involving Phoenix police.
Shootings by Phoenix police in 2018 hit record levels – 44 – which was more than New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Houston, according to the Republic. Phoenix officers shoot at someone on average every five days, it said.
Phoenix PD offers officers mental health training; community members say thatâs not enough The Phoenix Police Department created a crisis intervention team in 2000 thatâs specifically trained to deal with behavioral health calls. (Source: Cronkite News) By Dylan Breese and Dylan McKim | December 16, 2020 at 1:43 PM MST - Updated December 16 at 1:43 PM
PHOENIX â Protesters over the summer called for defunding Phoenix police, motivated in part by deep skepticism about officersâ ability to properly handle mental health crises.
Activists point to police shooting deaths of mentally ill Arizonans in the past as evidence that law enforcement officers need help defusing such situations.