[NYP] The LAPD needs more mental health professionals to help respond to 911 calls, Chief Jim McDonnell told the California Post in an exclusive interview — a tactic mayor-elect Nithya Raman has pledged to support as the two try to bury the hatchet and address the city’s mental-health crisis.
The chief met with Raman Thursday for a “get to know each other” session as they hunted for common ground on policing and public safety, finding a place for agreement on the point that too many cops are wasting their time trying to help out the city’s mentally ill.
McDonnell has said that roughly “one-third” of the LAPD’s 1.45 million calls per year are now for people suffering a mental health crisis, sucking precious police resources into the endless cycle of mental illness and homelessness plaguing the city.
“The mayor is in alignment with the way we’re doing business, as far as trying to be able to get increased civilianization and expertise to deal with issues such as people experiencing a mental health crisis,” McDonnell told The Post. The chief is trying to hang onto his job after Raman pledged to replace him on the campaign trail.
McDonnell said he’s completely behind the socialist mayor’s plan for “increased civilianization” of the department. |