Tulsa County Sheriff, Vic Regalado, came on morning talk radio on Monday; to address the greater Tulsa community about the recent mental health tragedy and some serious challenges in getting the mentally ill into essential care facilities.
The conversation was rather heavy and somber. Regalado does not expect the officers involved to face criminal or administrative sanctions. It appears Regalado and his colleagues are struggling with the reality that no easy answers exist in the current state policy. Rather than insisting that the officers conducted themselves perfectly, the sheriff explained that each scenario is so unique that it's impossible to follow a preconceived method. There are, however; key objectives which they seek to accomplish for everyones' safety and the patient's mental stability & dignity. Under our current laws, the local law enforcement are mandated to provide the medical transport for all mentally ill patients who are court-ordered into mental health facilities. This is problematic for a force which trains almost completely for dealing with "bad dudes" who are willfully suspected of crimes. |
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Sooner Politics
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