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In case my professional experiences can give some perspective on some recent high profile use of force cases.
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#GeorgeFloyd #Daunte
#GeorgeFloyd #Daunte
I spent almost a decade serving folks w/ chronic mental illness and substance abuse in LOCKED settings. Some of them, on their best days, were floridly psychotic. Many of these people had murdered, raped and assaulted others in their past.
I’d be locked in rooms and even cars with them. I’ve had to help physically restrain human beings when it was the last possible resort to protect against serious harm.
I spent years teaching others how to intervene in potentially dangerous situations and to, only when necessary, physically restrain others. I have never physically harmed anyone in my life.
When teaching people to put hands on another human being in order to protect them or others from harm the very first thing I stress is PROTECT THEIR AIRWAYS. If they say they can’t breathe, listen. No matter what. Never put hands on their neck.
More important than learning how to physically intervene in the safest way possible is evaluating whether any physical intervention is even necessary. The 1st question should always be, is there an extreme safety risk here? Not, “do I feel safe?”
If no one is actually at risk of immediate harm there are 100 ways to de-escalate a situation that don’t involve harming someone.
But this is my 2 cents as someone whose intention was to help others and keep people safe. I can’t speak to any professions where, despite what you may believe, that’s not actually the goal.
