The Democrat-run city of Seattle is testing a pilot program that has “crisis responders” answering some 911 calls instead of law enforcement officers.
Journalist Jonathan Choe shared a video of what Seattle police deal with in a city where homelessness, drug use, and mental illness are common problems, pondering how the scene might have played out with unarmed social workers at the helm.
As seen below, a mentally disturbed woman is being abusive to several police officers who stand idly by, with Choe praising the officers for essentially coddling the agitated woman.
“The officers conducted a master class on responding to this mental health crisis. Look at the patience and care shown to this women (sic) who was literally spitting in the face of these officers. Thankfully the incident ended peacefully,” he wrote.
“Now imagine an unarmed social worker going into this scene without police?” Choe then asked.
DOWNTOWN INSANITY: Late Tuesday morning, Seattle Police(@SeattlePD) officers swarmed the encampment at the corner of 3rd Ave and Cherry St, just a block away from City Hall. The officers conducted a master class on responding to this mental health crisis. Look at the patience and… pic.twitter.com/XhR53BG0qr
— Jonathan Choe Journalist (Seattle) (@choeshow) August 30, 2023
As the journalist noted, Democratic councilmember Lisa Herbold is behind the effort to hire six unarmed “crisis responders” for emergency calls through a new 911 Dual Dispatch/Alternate Crisis Response pilot program — Herbold was also a driving force behind the George Floyd-inspired “defund the police” effort in Seattle.
“I think it’s fair to say, it’s going to be risky and dangerous,” Choe concluded.
Social media users are not too confident in the pilot program… here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from X:
Interesting. Was she having a mental health crisis, or was she under the influence of something? As for social workers, more of them are needed; but there’s no need to send them out unarmed and alone. Police and mental health professionals should team up in such cases.
— Karen Olsen (@Virgofolkie) August 30, 2023
@SeattlePD truly deserve our highest respect for the stuff they deal with on a daily basis. This was so well-handled.
— Nicole Carpenter (@TuesdayGazette) August 30, 2023
Difference is that cops know every day on the job is life or death but they still show up to work. Will that be said of these unarmed social workers?
— Andrew Wong (@ayankeeoriginal) August 31, 2023
All those resources and she’ll be back! What a farce!!
— Debbie Bussell (@graciegirl1014) August 30, 2023
I just can’t in my wildest dreams believe what has happened to Seattle ! I used to live there and it was a wonderful place to live. It’s turned into a shitshow !!
— JB (@Lionheart2024) August 30, 2023
I can’t imagine a single social worker signing up for this.
— Sarah Speidel (@_sarahspeidel) August 30, 2023
Will Katie be going into the field with the responders on calls? That may provide some real world perspective.
— Joey (@HardHeadedDad) August 30, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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