JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Community Action Committee and other local groups rallied outside City Hall Tuesday, urging city leaders to change how Jacksonville responds to mental health emergencies.
Organizers held a “Care Not Cops” event calling for what they describe as a permanent mental health emergency response team with trained professionals, not just police, responding to certain 911 calls involving a person in crisis.
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“Just so that mental health is not a death sentence for the people of Jacksonville,” Kiana Blaylock with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee said.
What JCAC is calling for
The group’s demands include creating a mental health emergency response team and pushing for more accountability when officers use force during mental health-related calls. Blaylock said the group plans to keep pressing city leaders even when there are positive outcomes.
“I think it’s important to keep pushing because JSO is always going to highlight their good moments,” Blaylock said. “So somebody has to keep them accountable.”
How JSO responded
In a statement to News4JAX, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it is aware of the group’s intent.
JSO also said that, in the cases the group highlighted, investigations are ongoing, and “in each case, attempts were made to get the subjects medical assistance for their ongoing crises.”
Two recent high-profile crisis calls spotlight JSO response
While the JCAC event focused on broader policy changes, the discussion comes as JSO has recently drawn attention for its response to high-profile crisis situations.
Dames Point Bridge rescue video: At the end of April, JSO posted video showing an officer talking to a man on the edge of the Dames Point Bridge.
“Just touch my hand. Look at my hand. Touch my hand.” Officer Antonio Richardson said in the body camera video.
Ultimately, they pulled the young man back to safety. In the post, JSO urged anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide to contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
San Pablo Road Walmart standoff: Last week, an hours-long standoff behind a Walmart at San Pablo Road and Atlantic Boulevard ended when police shot an armed man who had been barricaded inside a truck, according to JSO.
Police said the incident began after the man’s family called to report he was armed and suicidal. JSO said the man eventually came out holding weapons and was shot after refusing commands to drop them. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to be Baker Acted and face charges.
“It’s important to work as best we can to get those folks out,” Sheriff T.K. Waters said. “Get them out safely, get them treatment. But in this situation, like I said before he introduced a firearm and like I’ve said before you can’t just introduce firearms to a situation like this. It’s going to end up the way that it ended up.”
What’s next?
JCAC said it wants the city to invest in systems that prioritize care and de-escalation for people in crisis.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.