The system built criminalizes illness, not cures it. Undertrained officers become warriors in a battle. Misunderstandings become flashpoints, a raised voice mistaken for aggression, a tearful plea seen as defiance. The result? A terrifying escalation that leaves a trail of trauma and, far too often, tragedy.

Where is the compassion? Where is the care? We cage the sick, brandishing badges instead of bandages. This isn’t justice, it’s barbarity. It’s a system that profits from fear, not healing.

This has been the experience of this family over the years. Suffering at the hands of a very poor mental health system and tyrant cops who should never be a part of any calls that involve someone who is suffering in a mental health crisis.  The situations that Erica has been placed in over her school years leading up to the current crisis have caused more harm than good.  

Imagine the terror. Your child is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the help you call arrives not as a lifeline, but as a threat. Uncompassionate cops, acting like tyrants, traumatize you further instead of offering support. This isn’t right. A few examples of this kind of monstrous response are all it takes to ignite righteous anger.

• Escalation Instead of De-escalation: Police officers often lack the training and experience to de-escalate situations involving mental health crises. This can lead to them using force or threats, which can further traumatize the person in crisis and the family members trying to help.

• Misunderstanding of Mental Illness: A lack of understanding about mental illness can lead to officers misinterpreting a person’s behavior. This can make the situation even more dangerous for everyone involved.

• Focus on Control: In some cases, police may prioritize control over de-escalation. This can make the person in crisis feel threatened and cornered, worsening their condition.

• Loss of Trust: When a mental health crisis is handled poorly by law enforcement, it can damage the trust between the community and the police. This can make it less likely that people will seek help in the future.

These aren’t isolated incidents! These are just two cracks in a chasm of injustice! Stories like these, where compassion and care were replaced by force, shouldn’t be the norm! Our most vulnerable deserve better! They deserve a system that embraces them, not crushes them! We need to tear down these walls of fear and build bridges of understanding!

If you read Erica’s story that finally sparked this outrage, you will know that she was raped at the age of 12 years old by a 22-year-old man that was never held accountable for his actions and tormented her instead over the years in her town. Just 6 months after this happened, she was in a mental health crisis where friends were concerned and called the police.  Rather than the police coming over with compassion for this poor girl’s suffering, 6, yes SIX officers yanked her out of her room, crashing her into a wall causing damage, and putting her into an arm lock and handcuffs.

Where is the outrage?! Is our compassion so selective that we turn a blind eye when those in the throes of mental illness are brutalized? Is a cry for help mistaken for a call to arms? Is this who we are? A society that cages the sick and criminalizes the broken? Where is the outrage? Where is the uprising against this tyranny disguised as public safety? We need a roar, not a whimper! We need a movement that demands compassion, not control!

How about another call for care that was instead met with violence by the police force?  Mind you, trying to get her help is a whole other beast of a problem in the broken mental health system.  Please do not think for a moment that we were not being active in getting her help for her C-PTSD.  That whole topic will be faced with another website soon!  For now, we are focused on this travesty at the hands of a police force that took an oath to serve and protect but instead brings force. 

During another call for help, she was manhandled and pushed through a door causing further trauma and injuries. 

Her terror wasn’t some mystery! It wasn’t a random fear born out of thin air! It was a primal scream forged in the crucible of a broken system! The people sworn to protect her became the monsters under her bed! The supposed guardians of our safety turned into agents of chaos!

Can you question her terror? Can you blame her for flinching at the sight of a badge, for recoiling from the very symbol of supposed security? These aren’t isolated incidents! This is a horrifying pattern, a tapestry woven from the threads of countless shattered lives! We train warriors, not caregivers, and unleash them on the most vulnerable!

This. Ends. Now! We need a revolution, a seismic shift that throws out the old guard and ushers in a new era of compassion! We need trained professionals, not armed soldiers! We need safe havens, not cold steel cages! Let’s dismantle this culture of fear and build bridges of understanding! Let’s make mental health a priority, not a prison sentence!

Erica’s story is a testament to the incredible human spirit. Despite enduring immense trauma during her youth, she continues to reach out and connect, offering love in the face of hardship. The challenges she’s faced within a struggling mental health system and traumatic police interactions have been immense. However, we believe that by fighting for justice on her behalf, we can make a positive impact not only for Erica but for everyone struggling to navigate these complex systems.