Fatal Police Shooting Of Mentally Ill Man Highlights Issue Plaguing The Country

People with severe mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by police. States across the U.S. are trying to address the problem, but police officials say part of the problem is the decay of the country's mental health system.

Reuters: California Shooting Shows Police Ill-Equipped To Handle Mentally Ill

The fatal shooting by police of a mentally unstable California man and the anguished response of his sister who had called 911 seeking help highlight the risks of a U.S. system that often relies on law enforcement to respond to mental health crises. Alfred Olango, 38, a Ugandan-born immigrant, was shot by one officer even as another, who had been trained to deal with mentally ill people, attempted to subdue him with a Taser, police said. (Bernstein, 9/29)

WABE: Fulton County Police Consider Crisis Intervention Units

In the wake of recent police shootings across the country, Fulton County’s police chief said he’s considering the creation of special units to help officers in the field respond to people with mental illnesses. At a meeting of Fulton County mayors Wednesday, Chief Gary Stiles cited the recent fatal shooting this week of a black man in California, when police were called to investigate a report about a mentally unstable man. (Yu, 9/29)

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