Cops kill woman having a mental health emergency...

[MrScorpio]

When Melissa Boarts’ parents called 911 seeking help from the police in locating their daughter after she had fled from the house threatening to slit her wrists, they couldn’t have imagined that their call would become Melissa’s death knell.
And yet, according to them, that is exactly how it turned out.

Melissa’s mother, Terry Boarts, had gone to pick up her 2-year-old granddaughter at her daughter’s house on Sunday, a usual routine with the family, when Terry noticed that her daughter, who was diagnosed as a bipolar manic depressive, was not completely herself. She was edgy.

“I heard Melissa go into to the living room, and I went in there to talk to her,” Terry Boarts said. “She was gone. She had left. We were able to find out she was headed on the interstate going to Auburn. She was threatening to slit her wrists with a knife.”
Putting their granddaughter in the car, Melissa’s parents went looking for her. Fortunately for them, their daughter’s car had a GPS system installed in it, and with the help of their other daughter Melinda, they managed to track the location of Melissa. She had pulled over at a rest stop on I-85, reports the Montgomery Advertiser.
“We were afraid she was going to hurt herself,” Terry said.

But the traffic was too backed up, leaving Melissa’s parents with no option but to call 911 for assistance.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/2966907/melissa-boarts-parents-call-911-to-thwart-troubled-daughters-suicide-attempt-but-cops-end-up-putting-a-bullet-in-her/#K2daRHfxYHcrTJHt.99

[Ilsa]

1. There's bound to be a dashboard recording, isn't there?

I'm shocked by how many big men with defense training feel physically threatened by women to the point they shoot to kill.

[Iggo]

2. Fucking cops.

[HuckleB]

3. Well, now I'm outraged.

Again.

[steve2470]

4. this is really sad, an outrage and so tragic

Cops NEED training on how to handle the mentally ill. Pro-tip: It's not with a gun.

[GOLGO 13]

5. They do. If the EDP gives them a chance.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

7. not enough.

I've heard from medical care professionals that cops tend to make the situation worse
when dealing get with such people. They often use an aggressive attitude that escalates the situation instead of deescalating .

[rockfordfile]

6. The cops murdered that woman.

The situation was entirely in their hands, and they just decided to murder that woman.

[branford]

8. Don't you believe you should at least first see a detailed accounting

of the alleged facts before you pronounce anyone a murderer?

If a police officer or bystander is killed or injured by an individual, they will not be less dead or injured because that individual is emotionally disturbed (or high, a minor, etc.).

Sadly, people with severe emotional and psychological issues, particularly when suicidal, make very poor or irrational decisions that lead to violent and dangerous encounters with law enforcement (and others).

In this particular instance, the police may have acted contrary to established procedures or they may have acted in legitimate defense of self and others. I will wait for far more facts before establishing any firm opinion, no less rely mostly on the allegations of plaintiff's attorney representing the family.

Further, police are not social workers or psychiatrists, and cannot be expected to have such qualifications. The fact that the initial situation occurred at all might be attributed to many people and policies concerning mental health and treatment, but not the police on the scene.