I don't think new infrastructure necessarily needs to be built from the ground up. We could just theoretically take the separation you are talking one step further and have this split off group not be beholden to or under the control of the Police Bureau. It's not like we need to buy new cars and radios and whatnot. We could just take them from the existing group and give them to the new one.
Ah. That may be the thing i was trying to visualize in my head. I guess it really is set up already under the PPB. Just take all those workers and make them the Portland behavioral Response Agency or something and drop Police alltogether.
Yeah and thats sorta what my roommate was unclear on too so far. Like, don't want to send a police officer (which i understand), but dont want to send a worker that is not geared up for the task. So a hybrid in between i guess.
As far as keeping them unarmed- yes. My roommate agreed on this. The issue is, unless guns and weapons altogether are outright gone in the US, he was saying that him and others in the program would feel a lot better if there was an armed, arresting officer on scene- they dont need to be seen, they dont need to do any talking with the person in need, but this way the mental health worker has a bit of peace of mind that if something goes wrong, its not just game over. his worry, and others in the program, was if they show up, and the person snaps and attacks and assaults them or harms them. Then what happens? They have now assaulted a mental healthworker. Do they get arrested now? or does nothing happen?
Perhaps its just my experience with police in my life, but i really have never felt an unneeeded presence by an armed officer. I mean, the bank I go make deposits in to has a gun. Do i feel he is escalating anything? no. If anything, I know the guy, and I know he shouldnt be near a gun.
I understand the desire for unarmed police, but I think the country as a whole is far too armed to ever really do that. Perhaps police could keep their regular patrol uniforms, but in these scenarios, with mental health response, etc. plainclothes officers could be responding as well. They look waaaayyyy less intimidating and "police like". Again doesnt even need to be police. I just think the risk factor of not having any armed personnel on scene- visual or not- would end poorly at some point.