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[–] 20 points 2 weeks ago

The cops almost certainly aren't going to help him, you could try to stop and connect him with some resources that might help but be prepared for an uphill battle the guy might not appreciate.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 weeks ago

    My city has a crisis team that responds to calls that do not require an armed officer. I would probably call the non-emergency line to request they come out and intervene.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 weeks ago

    When you have a problem, call the cops. Now you have two problems!

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  • [–] 4 points 2 weeks ago
    [–] 1 point 2 weeks ago

    Ignore it and advocate for better infrastructure. Bro was probably trying his best to get somewhere, but walking was his only option.

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  • [–] -3 points 2 weeks ago* (7 children)

    The job of the police is not to provide medical assistance, it is to put him in jail, which will make his situation infinitely worse.

    And how the hell do you know that he’s intoxicated? He could be mentally ill or have a head injury or it could be for one of a dozen other reasons. It’s pretty arrogant and bigoted to assume that he’s intoxicated.

    My advice is to mind your own goddamn business. But if you just can’t help yourselves, maybe do the person a favor and actually call an ambulance if your intention is to actually help them rather than make their situation worse.

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  • [–] 25 points 2 weeks ago* (2 children)

    I agree with all this person says but really had hopes they'd state it with less aggression.

    Leave them be sadly is usually the best choice. There is no help available quite often. At best, if you think it's a medical problem, an ambulance.

    Cops are for crimes and nothing else. Only when people are in real danger. Otherwise they're the danger and it is your fault for calling them.

    Kind like Chemo therapy. Poison you use when desperate in an attempt to kill the problem. Only to be used when neccesary and sparingly.

    See if a program like "Cahoots" or a similar crisis response program exists in your area too. If it does they may be able to help

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  • [–] 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    At best, if you think it’s a medical problem, an ambulance.

    That's putting a lot of faith in the 911 dispatcher to send EMS instead of police.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 weeks ago

    Yeah, if this is the US, it's not like you get to choose the response as the caller/complainant. PSAPs are generally police-oriented, with Fire/EMS as separate and secondary call screeners. It varies by PSAP. Some are even private contractors. Regardless, if someone calls 911 and there's an iota of suspicion about risk to responders, the police are going to engage first.

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  • [+] [S] 15 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
  • [–] 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    Do you know for sure that you don't have an outreach team? Some cities are doing that.

    https://www.seattle.gov/care/community-crisis-responders

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  • [+] [S] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)
  • [–] 1 point 2 weeks ago*

    I've seen the local care team in action, they were great with the person. This was about a year ago, so things can change. If I were you, I'd look for that kind of thing first and see if anyone has talked about the care recently.

    I've asked if they were okay before or called them away from the danger if they seemed with it enough to listen. You have to know your boundaries and how much you want to interact*. I've seen the smallest of people handle the homeless with firm compassion and large dudes get pushed around.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 weeks ago

    Cops outside America aren't necessarily the same.

    We had a cop doing CPR on an OD in a tent and he came-to and stabbed her.

    She died.

    She died saving the life of a person afflicted with addiction and homelessness, who killed her.

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    [–] -4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

    I'd leave him alone. If he's fucked up he chose to get fucked up. He could find a shelter and some assistance if he wanted to but most homeless people don't want the rules that come with assistance or housing.

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