‘Just putting out fires’: how police remain the default frontline in mental health crisis
GuardianApr 30, 2021
Clare Nowland, the 95-year-old woman who last week was tased by police at her Australian care home, has died. Police said she died “surrounded by family and loved ones.”
Kristian White, a senior police officer, has been suspended with pay and charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault over the tasing. His court date is set for July 5, but his charges may change since Nowland died.
This case proves that police can no longer be the first-line option for those suffering from mental health crises. Government inquiries have found that those suffering from mental illness are too often criminalized, even in non-violent incidents, and this very sad encounter falls into that tragic category. Hopefully, this tragedy spurs action on a new and more humane path for dealing with mental health crises.
This incident and its aftermath have been traumatic for other officers, who work extremely hard to maintain the respect and trust of the people they serve. This call went wrong, but it was one of 2M made each year by officers who put themselves in danger and are overwhelmingly able to defuse most situations.