Death...first option?

I saw an article on CNN that reminded me of the presentation i did on the PIC. My presentation was about how the Prison Industrial Complex denies mentally unstable people proper treatment for their illnesses. In the recent situation i feel that this young boy was denied help for his illness, which ultimately led to his young death.

Unfortunately this is one of many stories i have come across. A police officer has pulled the trigger too fast. The Schizophrenic 18-year-old Keith Vidal was just 100 pounds, and 3 officers were called to try and detain him for an incident in his family's home. He was armed with a screw driver, which i don't think of a deadly of a weapon, especially considering the three officers were fully equipped with guns, tasers and other detaining weapons.

Not sure about our current police enforcement programs training in dangerous situations, but where is the evaluation of the individual going into a new case? Just pull the trigger? "They have to make a judgment very quickly: Is (the individual) a danger to themselves or a danger to others?" said Ron Martinelli, a justice and forensic consultant who trains police officers on what to do in such situations." So are these officers being trained to make a judgment call even in a non-life threatening situation with a unique individual? Why do they have to resort to guns as the first option? These police officers should be trained with all aspects of mental stability, rage, psychosis etc. etc. An education and understanding of how to handle and deal with the mental unstable-just may save alive!

I think we Americans need to take a step back and look at how many innocent lives have been taken because there was a judgment call made early and without merit!

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

Nelson Mandela