Notice of complaint related to 2022-0788

OF
DIAL
CUSTOM
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
NOTICE OF COMPLAINT
September 16, 2022
ICMS #: 2022-0788
On September 12, 2022, the OPO received an online complaint.
The complainant alleges: On
, at approximately
I called 311 and
explained that my daughter was having a mental health issue and I needed a mental health
officer. I may have explained some of the details: she is 14, with diagnosed mental health
issues (major depression and mood disorder), and takes medication (Prozac). The 311
operator told me she'd connect me with 911. I explained the situation to the 911 operator:
14-year old daughter had mental health issues, was having an episode where she was
destroying framed photos, pulled items and tossed them, and that while trying to stop her
from hurting herself and destroying items she kicked me and struck out at me with her
hands. I requested a mental health officer as I have had to do at least twice before, prior to
getting her diagnosed and on meds. The operator asked if she was suicidal. I said not
suicidal and, my mistake, I said maybe homicidal. However I am a lay person and it was
said sarcastically in the heat of stress. The officers came and took my statement and those
of my daughter and her 16-year old brother. They took photos. I kept stressing to the
officers that this was a mental health issue and that I wanted her taken to a medical facility.
I was previously advised by officers to do this if I thought it unsafe to drive her myself.
Instead, the officer, with a smirk, kept insisting that he was mental health officer and he
got to decide. He said his opinion was this was simply behavioral and not a mental health
issue, in part because she was calmed down, still crying I think, but angry. I explained
repeatedly that she had a diagnosed mental health condition, was on meds, and had not
been eating well. I also explained that she'd just met with her mental health case manager
and had a meltdown when she realized she would be losing her phone because of
inappropriate social media usage. The incident occurred less than hour after the
appointment, just after her dad dropped her off at home from the appointment. Three police
cars and 3-4 officers were involved. I believe they sent a female officer to search her
outside in front of neighbors. One officer that I spoke with appeared to only have been sent
because if the homicidal comment. He left after I explained my misuse of the word and
that it was said flippant without thinking sense I jeot saying this was a mental health issue.
They arrested her, put her in display in front of neighbors in handcuffs, then drive off,
taking her to
An APD Victim Services
OF
GINE
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
NOTICE OF COMPLAINT
officer came and spoke with me after they left with my daughter. I again explained the
situation and explained that I only wanted medical help and assistance with transport for a
mental health incident. I later got two calls from the mental health officer, I believe, telling
me she through up in the police car and asking me if she'd hit her head. I told them I did
not think SO. The 2nd call was telling me she was being taken to the hospital on orders of
the facility nurse for a possible concussion. He asked me to meet them at the hospital
instead of as previously discussed at the
with her medication. I did SO and
spent about 2 hours there waiting and not seeing my daughter until she was being taken
out. The officer did speak with me about the results and what would be next steps. I spent
the night worrying about the physical and mental health of my child. My complaint: the
officer should not have arrested my child. He should have transported her to a mental health
facility for doctors or nurses to evaluate her, especially knowing she had a mental health
condition and had just had a triggering event that led to her outburst. If this was proper
protocol, then APD mental health officers need better training before being let loose on the
public. This endangered my child's safety. I did not call to report a crime. I called for mental
health assistance as instructed by law enforcement. This chills me and any other parent
from trying to get mental health assistance knowing that their loved one could end up in
jail, with a criminal record for a mental health issue. We are supposed to treat mental health
sufferers, not criminally punish them for a mental health issue. I did not believe it was safe
to transport her myself. Calling APD was my error. I will have to deal with the juvenile
detention authorities because I called APD and APD's officer made the wrong call and he
did si with no sympathy or compassion for a 14-year old experiencing a mental health
crisis. To me, he was respectful, but he criminalized a mental health breakdown by my 14-
year old. Would he have made the same call if we had not been African American? I
wonder, but my gut tells me no. Report #
This notice of complaint is a request for Internal Affairs to initiate an investigation to
determine if the employee conduct is within compliance of APD policy, Civil Service
Rules, and Municipal Civil Service Rules.