REMARKS
Council Member Yusef Salaam discusses the importance of compassionate mental health crisis response
0:11:45
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3 min
Council Member Yusef Salaam, chair of the committee on public safety, addresses the importance of compassionate and safe responses to mental health emergencies. He emphasizes the need for alternative programs like B-HEARD and improved training for law enforcement to better handle mental health crises.
- Salaam highlights the risks associated with traditional law enforcement responses to mental health crises
- He expresses interest in understanding NYPD training, dispatch procedures, and de-escalation techniques for mental health calls
- Salaam also mentions the hearing of Intro 532, which would expand security guard funding for non-public schools
Yusef Salaam
0:11:45
Thank you.
0:11:50
Good morning.
0:11:54
I'm counsel in the use of salam, and I am the chair of the committee on public safety.
0:11:59
I'd like to thank the chairs, Lee, Narcis, and Ariola for joining the public safety committee in convening this most important hearing.
0:12:07
And I'd like to also thank the committee members who have joined us for this hearing.
0:12:12
As my colleagues have eloquently stated, today's hearing is an is an opportunity for the council to examine how the city can compassionately and safely.
0:12:24
Response to mental health emergencies.
0:12:28
Looking back, history has demonstrated that law enforcement responses to people experiencing mental health crisis can create undue risk of already escalating tensions.
0:12:43
Due to fear of arrest, excessive force, or involuntary hospitalization, police presence can trigger heightened reactions by individuals in mental health crisis, which can result in dangerous police, civilian interactions, and to often lead to tragic consequences.
0:13:03
I wanna note that this is not police criminal interactions, but rather police civilian interactions.
0:13:12
That's why investing in alternative programs such as be heard, which seeks to identify appropriate, circumstances for non police responses to mental health calls is so essential as part of the city's holistic efforts to address growing mental health needs.
0:13:28
To achieve further success, we must continue to train clinical professional.
0:13:34
And be sure to extend expend rather city resources in a way that does not result in increased criminalization and or victimization of some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers.
0:13:47
Specifically regarding the NYPD, I'm interested in hearing how officers are trained to successfully navigate, engaging with people in mental health crisis, and how they deescalate volatile situations.
0:14:04
How emergency calls are dispatched such that NYPD call takers are provided with the training processes and information needed to appropriately triage, emergency mental health calls.
0:14:17
How NYPD procedures for mental health calls aim to deescalate situations and protect both civilians and first responders.
0:14:28
And how procedures can be improved such that our city does not fail to protect the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers in crisis such as the late, Wynn Rosario, Kowalski, Triwig, Deborah Diner, and many others.
0:14:46
I look forward to hearing the administration's testimony and the valuable perspective brought by members of the public and experts who dedicate their lives to providing care, and service to those with mental health issues.
0:14:59
And I and I challenged the administration to develop long term strategies that ensure fair compassion and practical approaches for providing care when responding to mental health emergencies.
0:15:12
Additionally, the public safety committee will be hearing unrelated legislation, intro number 532, sponsored by council member Brandon, which would expand the existing program to provide reimbursements to non public schools for expenses related to hiring of unarmed security guards.
0:15:34
With that, I yield to cheerleader.
0:15:37
Thank you.
