A Crisis Team Responding to a Suicide Attempt Asked for Help, El Cajon Police Refused

A Crisis Team Responding to a Suicide Attempt Asked for Help, El Cajon Police Refused

Back in May, El Cajon police stopped automatically responding to mental health crisis calls where someone is threatening to harm themselves, but there’s no apparent crime or danger to others.   The department’s policy shift, first reported by Voice of San Diego, followed a federal appeals court ruling that El Cajon police concluded means police could have personal liability if such calls go sideways.  Voice of San Diego obtained a county log of …

Fearing lawsuits, El Cajon Police stopped responding to some mental health calls

The decision means county mental health teams sometimes also can’t respond to crisis calls involving a threat to a single person or lack police support when they do.