A state task force on police use of deadly force released on Monday a series of recommendations aimed at preventing confrontations.
The panel examined 10 incidents from 2015 and 2016 and found that in most of the cases, officers were responding to situations that developed very rapidly, half in less than 60 seconds. The report also found many cases involved a male with a criminal history in possession of a deadly weapon, suffering from depression and often suicidal, who had experienced some type of personal loss, and most had drugs or alcohol in their systems.
Among the group’s recommendations were improving access to expanded mental health services, including crisis stabilization and inpatient mental health care, as well as intensive community supervision.
The report also recommends that officers and dispatchers get continued training on how to respond in these situations.
