Kent Police report that in six recent 911 incidents officers were able to intervene and safely detained someone having a severe mental health crisis.
“Those individuals were transported to medical locations where they could receive immediate aid, and resource information for long-term support,” according to a Sept. 25 Kent Police statement on Facebook about calls over the previous four days.
Early this year Kent Police signed a contract with Puget Sound Fire to offer a co-responder program where a nurse and social worker respond to certain 911 calls, but officers handled these cases due to a few reasons.
”All these calls had one thing in common,” according to police. “Use or threat of use of a weapon and/or threats of assaultive behavior. Your highly trained KPD patrol officers were patient, used de-escalation techniques and safely shepherded these people in crisis to medical services.”
• Patient one is a male in his 40s who developed post-surgery delirium. His behavior escalated to concerns of assaultive behavior.
• Patient two is a woman in her 30s. She was on an eight-day drug bender, became psychotic and was hiding in the bushes. She tried to run into traffic. She resisted officers’ attempts to assist but was eventually safely detained by several patient officers.
• Patient three is a juvenile who was assaultive, and threatened to kill herself in multiple ways, including with a razor blade.
• Patient four is a man in his 30s who threatened to shoot himself.
• Patient five is a man in his 20s who called 911, stated he was homicidal and wanted to assault a police officer. He was asking to go to jail.
• Patient six is a man in his 50s. He also called 911 and asked for help because he was hallucinating and wanted to shoot himself.
If you or someone you know is suicidal or in crisis, Kent Police named the following resources:
• Local Crisis Hotline: 1-866-427-4747
• National Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
• Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor, it is free 24/7
• If you are in danger of hurting yourself or someone else, call 911
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