Front Burner

Should police be on mental health calls?

Jennifer Lavoie helps train police officers how to handle mental health calls. Today on Front Burner, she shares her observations about recent cases when people who struggled with their mental health ended up killed by police, and what needs to change to prevent such deadly outcomes.
Ejaz Ahmed Choudry, a 62-year-old father of four with schizophrenia was the third Canadian in a mental health crisis to be killed by police in June alone.
Ejaz Ahmed Choudry, a 62-year-old father of four with schizophrenia was the third Canadian in a mental health crisis to be killed by police in June alone. (Submitted by Choudry family)

Ejaz Choudry. D'Andre Campbell. Rodney Levi. In the last few weeks, several Canadians who struggled with their mental health have been shot and killed by police after authorities were called. Today on Front Burner, Jennifer Lavoie, a criminology professor who helps train police how to handle mental health calls, talks to Josh Bloch about why this issue persists, and how it can be stopped.