This plea comes directly from the heart. It originates from a personal tragedy experienced when my brother needed help - not violence - from the City of Wayne Police Department, in Wayne, Michigan. A call for assistance, in the throes of a mental health crisis, was met with a tragic shooting that took a treasured life.

In the United States, people with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than other civilians approached by law enforcement (Treatment Advocacy Center, 2015). We cannot let this statistic continue to rise. All Police Departments should be effectively trained to handle calls involving people experiencing mental health crises. This demand includes the requirement of an on-site social worker for these type of dispatch calls.

This requirement would potentially lower the risk of unnecessary injuries and deaths during dispatch calls. In Sweden, for example, Social workers are paired with police officers in dealing with individuals suffering from mental health problems, and this 'co-response' model has seen promising results (Lund University, 2017).

Our loved ones deserve respect, care, and proper handling, especially during their most vulnerable moments. Their stories should not be left untold, and they should not become another brutality statistic. We strongly advocate for the necessary measures to equip our Police Departments for mental health emergencies.

Sign this petition to call for the change that might protect the lives of our most vulnerable citizens.