Editorial Recommends More Police Training in Dealing with Disabled Suspects

In a scathing editorial in today’s Houston Chronicle (Tues. Sept. 25, 2012, the editor urged the Houston Police Department to undergo more training in the handling of suspects with mental illness. Referring to a tragic accident where a police officer shot an unarmed double amputee in a wheelchair who also had mental health issues who threatened him with a silver pen, the editor wondered why a taser or baton were not used instead of a gun with bullets. The man was shot and killed. (“Killing Sparks cry for HPD reform,” Monday Sept 24, 2012.
The editor recommended more police training in dealing with disabled Americans. To the editor’s suggested training needs, we also need more police training in how to effectively handle deaf and hard of hearing suspects with low language levels.