Police not equipped to deal with mental health situations

Editor,

January 17, Janelie Rodriguez was having a mental health episode. Her parents wanted her safe, so they did what many would do and called the police for help. The police came, Janelie ran, and police caught her at a nearby Whataburger. Janelie, who is a little over a 100 pounds, was in the middle of a mental break and scared, then bit the police officer on the finger.

Janelie spent January to July in Hays County Jail until her court date where a judge considered a mental health evaluation and dropped her assault on a public servant charge. Though she had served enough time to cover her remaining charges, Janelie’s lack of documentation meant her freedom from Hays County would leave her open to an ICE detainer. On July 13, less than 48 hours after her release from Hays County, Janelie was sent to the South Texas Detention Center in Pearsall, TX.

Since then, Janelie, her family, her attorney, and community have been fighting for her release. After numerous court dates, Janelie’s asylum case was denied. Janelie, who has psychosis as a result of trauma, will be deported soon to a country she does not know because her family wanted her safe.

Janelie’s story isn’t atypical. In July, Tania Silva and her family had a similar experience. Tania was arrested by the Austin Police Department after EMS was called to get help to stabilize her after she went missing and was off medication for a day. Instead of EMS, three APD officers, including a mental health officer, responded to the call. Witnesses reported she was treated aggressively, was tackled, hit in the back, and hogtied by police. She was then charged with felony assault on a public servant.

Like Janelie, Tania has experienced mental health issues for much of her life. Travis County Sheriff’s Office eventually dropped the ICE hold on Tania; Janelie’s fate awaits her in Mexico.

In both Janelie and Tania’s cases, police have proven they are not equipped to effectively respond to cases of mental health crisis. Intentional or not, they have caused more harm than good. It is our responsibility then to develop institutions that can properly respond to these calls. It’s beyond time to invent, and invest our time, energy, and faith in a system that actually serves our communities.

Karen Muñoz

San Marcos