Crosscut Now
Sept. 28, 2021 - SPD responding to fewer mental health calls
9/28/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Seattle police intervening in fewer mental health calls, data show.
Since Washington implemented new police use-of-force laws, SPD officers have sent fewer people in mental health crisis to the hospital.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS
Crosscut Now
Sept. 28, 2021 - SPD responding to fewer mental health calls
9/28/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Since Washington implemented new police use-of-force laws, SPD officers have sent fewer people in mental health crisis to the hospital.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Crosscut has found that since late July, Seattle police have become noticeably more hands-off when it comes to handling mental health crisis calls.
July is when new police accountability laws went into effect.
Seattle police officers are sending fewer people in mental health crisis to the hospital.
The use of involuntary commitments dropped by roughly 45% in August.
Seattle crisis responders say they're already feeling the effects of the department's pullback.
Some express safety concerns, how to best keep people in crisis from hurting themselves or others.
Officials say officers' new reluctance to engage reflects uncertainty about what type of force is and isn't allowed under the new laws.
This comes amid a larger civic conversation about police reform to determine what role law enforcement should play in the event of a behavioral health crisis.
I'm Starla Sampaco.
Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.
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