Fayetteville group demands mental health reform for city's police force
Wednesday night in Fayetteville, advocates were pushing for mental health reform within the city's police department.
The event comes just days after Fayetteville police shot and killed 40-year-old Justin Livesay during a mental health crisis.
Police said Livesay was armed with two knives and made advances on officers. But his wife says he was having a mental break and needed help.
There are other victims like Jada Johnson, who family members said was having a mental episode back in July. She died at the hands of police.
More than 30 people gathered at the Market House to march. Some carried signs that read:
“WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.”
Somber speeches that honored people who died at the hands of police.
Advocates who gathered want to see mental health professionals involved in these emergency calls. They fear if change isn’t made, more lives will be lost.
"He was a kind, gentle person," said April Brandhorst, Livesay's wife. Brandhorst said he had a mental health episode on Friday, prompting a call to 911.
"I feel so responsible because I called for help. and it killed my husband."
These organizers say too many residents have died at the hands of police when ultimately they needed help.
They could be heard chanting "Justice for Jada," a nod to Jada, who was shot and killed July 1.
Police received a call about a break-in and she ultimately was suffering a mental health crisis.
On Wednesday night, organizers wanted to bring awareness to their position that mental health professionals should be involved in calls that stem from mental episodes.
“It’s not fair, it has to stop," said Rhonda Shirley with the Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Taskforce. "This is not just for Jada. This is for all victims. And I mean all victims that have made calls to Fayetteville police and haven’t survived that call.”
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office told WRAL News in a statement: “We work with mental health professionals on a regular basis.”
Several people at the rally said they plan on attending the Sept. 12 council meeting to voice their concerns during public comment.
In Durham, a new crisis response pilot program launched over the summer, with the intent of sending responders specifically trained to answer 911 calls for those having a mental health crisis.
