Mentally ill a big problem for cops

By Mike Howell-Staff writer

Police Chief Jamie Graham says his officers have seen a spike in the number of calls involving mentally ill people, and he wants the provincial government to take notice.

Though Graham couldn't provide statistics, he said anecdotal reports from his officers over the past three weeks reflect an increase in calls.

"We're concerned because we've had two cases recently where people have died [from suicide] still wearing medical bracelets-fresh releases from the hospital," Graham told the Courier. "We're attending a lot of calls where the individual is running in the street. During the arrest they spit on everybody, they fight inordinately. It's a big issue."

Graham said he couldn't provide specific statistics because the department's data retrieval system isn't set up to pinpoint mental health calls. The chief said he will look to his information technology department to create a way where officers can highlight mental health calls.

Once that data is available, it could be turned over to the provincial government. Graham wouldn't speculate on what action could be taken but said statistics were crucial to highlighting the problem.

"I haven't got an easy answer for you but I don't think we can simply continue on dealing with the volume of mental health calls. Our problem is we're the first responders and we're the ones who get called at three in the morning."

Graham contacted Chief Coroner Terry Smith, and the two will meet next week to discuss the issue. Smith is reviewing recent statistics involving mentally ill people.

The VPD has a devoted unit, Car 87, to handle mental health calls around the clock, but the unit can't keep up with the workload, Graham said.

"All you have to do is drive downtown," he said. "It appears there are more people on the street who are suffering from problems. Our officers all comment about it."

Mayor Sam Sullivan, chair of the Vancouver police board, said his research indicates the rate of mental illness is high in the city, especially in the Downtown Eastside.

Sullivan said the police department can "put a spotlight on" mental health to encourage the rest of society, including governments, to respond with action.

"Certainly more hard data from the police department would bolster my arguments that we need an intensive care component for people with significant mental illnesses-that they can become stabilized and get the help that they need without being victimized and experiencing the terrible crimes from predators in society," the mayor said.

Sullivan said he's lobbying the provincial government to re-open beds at the Riverview Hospital for the mentally ill in Coquitlam.

Former VPD Insp. Ken Frail told the Courier in April that in researching data for a report on Downtown Eastside hotels, he found some shocking statistics related to mental health calls.

Frail said paramedics responded to 1,800 calls in the Downtown Eastside in 2005 involving psychiatric patients. Frail also discovered the Strathcona Mental Health Team alone has 1,300 clients.

published on 06/22/2007