2012-09-19_HRC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Human Rights Commission Minutes September 19, 2012 365 Chair Grefenberg requested further information on the training that occurred after the incident in 366 February. Police Chief M�athwig said the training offered was on mental health and was 367 provided to every officer in Roseville. 368 369 Ms. Moen said she did not want to see individuals in the community fearing the police 37o department. She questioned if families of the mentally ill should make the department aware of 371 toy weapons, and asked if police officers could work with special ed children to build 372 relationships. She commented that those with mental illness are not obvious and perhaps a 373 colored bracelet would make officers aware of how to handle situations in a more proper manner. 374 This would assure that situations were not elevated to an unnecessary level. 375 376 Police Chief Mathwig eXplained there were too many toy guns out there for them all to be listed 377 with the City. He discussed the use of air soft guns in the community. He indicated he has 378 conducted Lunch with the Officer for the past three school years to create positive interactions 379 between students and police officers. He noted the department also has an officer assigned to 38o Roseville High School. This officer could work with staff to discuss special ed and replica gun 381 issues. 382 383 Youth Commissioner Dao asked how feasible the medical bracelet would be for mentally ill 384 individuals. Police Chief Mathwig stated some bracelets were already available, but some 38s people do not wish to wear them given the stigma associated with the bracelet. 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 Chair Grefenberg encouraged Ms Moen to provide staff with contact information on the stigma training. Mr. Partico understood the importance of the officers seeing a weapon on scene. However, knowing that the individual was mentally challenged, he felt another route should have been chosen. 394 Commissioner Jill Brisbois questioned how the neighbors should have acted to get the pertinent 395 information to the Police Department. Police Chief Mathwig stated a lieutenant was made aware 396 by the neighbors that the gun could be a toy and this information was brought to his attention. 397 However, with the number of agencies and individuals on site, this may not always be the case. 398 He stated the neighbors could also call 911 and report further information on the case as this will 399 be brought to the officer's attention. 400 401 Commissioner Brisbois said she understood the Police position that the gun trumped the 402 situation, and that was the only thing that mattered. However, the situation should have been 403 trumped by autism, she said. 404 405 Police Chief Mathwig did not feel it was fair to state only the gun mattered. Of course, the 406 officers were concerned about the young man, and his neighbors. He stated autism was a 407 spectrum disease and the department knew that this individual could function on his own for 408 several hours each day based on prior contact at a local bar. He explained that autism would not 409 kill an officer, but that the pistol could have. 410