Statement on Fatal Shooting of Queens Woman in Crisis
On September 17, a Queens woman in distress was fatally shot in a police encounter. Here is my official statement on the matter:
Press reports indicate that the police had been called to the same address multiple times, which suggests the 911 call itself could have been prevented if a different, non-police, response had been used earlier.
In 2016, the Council of State Governments Justice Center reviewed the city’s behavioral health crisis system and made several recommendations to the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice on how to improve the response to these types of incidents, including the following:
“Implement a division of NYPD that oversees all specialized behavioral health responses by the NYPD... to ensure that there is consistency in responses and best practices across all five boroughs…” and,
“Expand the current triage desk to assist with all 911 calls coming into NYPD identified as a behavioral health crisis…to ensure that available behavioral health diversion opportunities are identified as quickly as possible. Allow for the triage desk staff to access…databases to identify prior history and available response options.”
These common-sense recommendations are based on best-practice models used in other communities. It’s time for New York City to catch up and implement systems that anticipate and avoid crises, which is far better and safer than responding to them.
More Info
- Officers Kill Knife-Wielding Queens Woman Who Reported Burglary, Police Say
New York Times article 9/17/18
