Photo courtesy of South Sound News

Photo courtesy of South Sound News

Office of Law Enforcement Oversight director issues statement on behavioral health response

Calls for non-law-enforcement teams to respond to non-violent emergencies related to mental health.

The Director of King County’s Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, Tamer Abouzeid, issued a statement in response to the announcement made by King County officials that more investments will be made to support the mental health needs of King County residents.

The statement read as follows:

Taking care of our people’s needs is the best way to ensure public safety for all; on the other hand, involving law enforcement can escalate situations that can better be addressed by other professionals. When it comes to mental and behavioral health, that means we need the right people to respond, we need them to respond the right way, and we need to be able to provide services to those who need them after contact is made.

I call on the newly announced coalition to implement a system where non-law-enforcement mobile crisis teams are the sole first responders to non-violent emergencies related to mental health or illness, poverty, and/or substance use. These professionals can make informed decisions on whether they need to involve other responders.

The STAR program in Denver County, Colorado, which diverts calls away from law enforcement, results in almost no arrests and no calls for police backup. Similarly, the system in Maricopa County, Arizona, handles most cases without involving law enforcement — it also gives law enforcement personnel the chance to expeditiously drop off community members who may benefit from treatment or intervention.

The success of any program will also depend on the availability of short-, medium-, and long-term services focused on mental health, substance use, and poverty. That means investing in walk-in clinics, outpatient and inpatient treatment, housing, material support, and more.

By diverting calls away from law enforcement and to the best equipped professionals, we can improve public safety for all while reducing incarceration and alleviating the strain on law enforcement hiring and retention.




Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

King County Crime Dive podcast.
2 injured in shootout; man stabbed in tent | King County Crime Dive

In this episode, we take a closer look at a shootout in Auburn, a stabbing in a wooded area in Renton, and a smash-and-grab burglary in Federal Way.

Inside the SCORE jail, 20817 17th Ave. S., Des Moines. (File photo)
King County will no longer house inmates at SCORE jail

The cities of Renton, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac and Tukwila own the facility

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn (File photo)
King County Councilmember calls for audit of juvenile diversion programs

Reagan Dunn says the program lacks transparency and accountability measures.

t
Kent Police Blotter: Sept. 11-24

Incidents include multiple store robberies, carjacking, 5 shot at Airbnb party

Screenshot of SUDORS from Dept. of Health website
Dept. of Health launches dashboard to track overdose death data

DOH aims to help communities better understand overdose deaths, make informed prevention decisions

A red-light camera sign at Pacific Highway South and Kent Des Moines Road, one of six intersections where the city of Kent has had cameras since 2019. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Kent Police
Kent to activate red-light cameras at another intersection

Cameras installed at 108th Avenue SE and SE 208th Street in Panther Lake

File photo.
Dept. of Commerce awards $35.4 million for solar power projects across the state

Projects across King County were awarded millions in collective funding.

Fall City branch of the King County Library System. Courtesy photo
King County Library System receives grant to develop a climate action plan

The National Endowment for the Humanities gave a $133,252 grant to help develop climate initiatives.

t
Slow, swerving driver in Kent leads to DUI arrest by police

Auburn woman, 55, eventually stopped by officers trying to enter Highway 167

Most Read