Report questions why LAPD mental health specialists must defer to armed officers

"A new report from the city controller's office questions the effectiveness of the LAPD's signature crisis response program, saying clinicians trained in de-escalation too often are forced to defer to armed patrol officers. For years, Los Angeles Police Department officials have touted the success of the Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team, or SMART. But critics say the program, which pairs licensed specialists with officers in unmarked cars, is failing in the crucial initial minutes of encounters when multiple police shootings of mentally ill people have occurred."

"Even though its purpose is to send in clinicians and tap their expertise to avoid killings, LAPD policy still requires armed patrol officers to clear a scene of any potential threats beforehand. Traditional police units almost always take charge, even on calls in which no weapon is involved, such as a person threatening to commit suicide, Manning said. Referring to SMART as a co-response program "is pretty much a misnomer in this case," she said. "How is it that we're ending up with so many fatalities?""

The city controller's office questions the effectiveness of the LAPD's SMART crisis response program, saying clinicians trained in de-escalation too often defer to armed patrol officers. SMART pairs licensed specialists with officers in unmarked cars but policy requires armed patrol officers to clear scenes of potential threats before clinicians intervene. Traditional patrol units frequently take charge, even on calls with no weapons, including suicide threats. Multiple police shootings have occurred in the initial moments of responses. LAPD officers have opened fire 35 times this year, and at least a third of recent shootings involved individuals showing obvious signs of emotional distress. The LAPD declined to comment.

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