Meanwhile, Detroit police are conducting an internal administrative probe. State police are investigating Sunday’s shooting and will submit their findings to the Wayne County prosecutor’s office. The officers who fired shots Sunday at Burks have been placed on administrative leave.
The Treatment Advocacy Center said in a 2015 report that people with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than other people approached by law enforcement.
Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told The Associated Press for a story last month that many communities lack a mental health crisis infrastructure, and that nearly 130 million people in the United States live in areas with a shortage of mental health providers. The officers are routinely put into this mode, and candidly, we’re seeing more and more violent episodes.”Īdvocates for people with mental illness say they face greater risk of a police encounter resulting in their death. “This is not just a police matter,” White said. Our mental health crisis in our city is real.” This is not what we wanted,” said White who later added “our mental health crisis in this country is real. Police Chief James White called the shooting a “very tragic situation.” On Tuesday, Detroit police showed the footage to reporters. OK? Can you just drop the knife for me please? Please? Whatever you’re going through I can help you.”īut Burks - who had a history of struggling with mental illness - didn’t drop the knife and after pacing in the middle of the street suddenly sprinted toward officers, who fired 38 shots in three seconds. “You’re not in any trouble, OK?” the officer continued. Can you just talk to me and drop the knife?” You’re OK,” said a member of the Detroit Police Department’s crisis intervention team about 5 a.m. DETROIT (AP) - Police body camera footage showed officers pleading with Porter Burks to drop the knife he was carrying on the dimly lit Detroit street.
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