After 25 years in law enforcement, I have responded to hundreds of calls involving individuals claiming mental health struggles. Let
me be clear: mental health challenges are real, and they deserve proper
treatment. However, they do not give anyone a free pass to commit crimes,
assault officers, or endanger the public. The badge does not distinguish
between a criminal act motivated by anger, greed, or mental instability. A
crime is still a crime, and victims still suffer the consequences.
In recent years, there has been a growing narrative that
officers should treat every volatile situation as a counseling session. Law
enforcement officers are not therapists in the field. We are trained to assess
threats, maintain order, and protect life. While compassion has its place, it
cannot override officer safety or public safety. When someone becomes violent,
armed, or aggressively non-compliant, our responsibility is to stop the threat
— not to conduct a clinical evaluation on the sidewalk.
The term 'de-escalation' has become a popular buzzword. In
principle, slowing situations down and using communication skills is something
officers have done for decades. But the way the term is now applied often
ignores reality. You cannot de-escalate someone who is actively attacking,
advancing with a weapon, or refusing lawful commands while creating imminent
danger. Hesitation in those moments can cost officers their lives. Safety
cannot be sacrificed to satisfy unrealistic expectations.
Every shift, officers make split-second decisions under
extreme pressure. Critics who have never stood in a dark alley facing an armed
suspect often underestimate the speed and unpredictability of violent
encounters. We do not have the luxury of hindsight. We must make decisions in
real time with limited information. Mental health issues may explain behavior,
but they do not eliminate the danger posed in the moment.
Accountability matters — for officers and for offenders. The
justice system has mechanisms for addressing mental health through courts and
treatment options. But on the street, our duty is to provide immediate protection of life and enforce the law. Officer safety is not negotiable. The public
deserves protection, and officers deserve to go home at the end of their shift.
That is not controversial — it is common sense.
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