Several deadly shootings involving police in the Greater Boston area are raising serious concerns about mental health and the safety of officers on the streets.
“Somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of all the calls that we respond to have some type of behavioral health aspect,” said Chief Michael Bradley of the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association.
Katie Twomey, a clinician for the Tewksbury Police Department and others, said she’s been responding to calls with law enforcement for more than a year now.
“We help stabilize situations in a way that prioritizes safety, dignity,” she said, adding, “our role centers around de-escalation, risk assessment as well as clinical intervention.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
In Northfield, New Hampshire, police shot and killed a woman Monday while responding to a domestic disturbance
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
Two days earlier in Raymond, New Hampshire, a man died after allegedly shooting an officer and firing at his own family. Officials said Matthew Massey suffered mental health issues and died by suicide.
Boston police shot and killed a man Saturday. They said he was struggling with mental health and wielded a sword at officers and a clinician.
Two deadly shootings involved with police shook New England over the weekend. The incidents happened on Saturday in Boston and in southern New Hampshire.
“Not all acts of violence or behavioral issues are related to people who just want to create violence,” said Dr. Cristina Montalvo of Tufts Medical Center. “This is something that is not new to the correctional system. I think we’re just getting better at being able to intervene sooner, which is what we’re seeing with these co-correspondence teams.”
There are as many as 150 mental health clinicians working with departments across Massachusetts. Officers get special training as well.
“The George Floyd issue with police reform really made us take a look at how we were responding to some of these mental health issues. And how we can do a better job,” Bradley said.