Make cops safer by improving mental health system

Many news stories about cops needlessly killing individuals or individuals foolishly killing or injuring police officers yet again point to the failure of our mental health system. For decades now the mentally ill have been effectively criminalized by this society. And this "advanced" American way of dealing with the mentally ill – by malign neglect, has spread to other countries.

A capitalist society that routinely creates so many "losers" is bound to have a serious mental health crisis. In New York recently a black male who first nearly murders his girl friend, then murders two non-white cops as "revenge" for the controversial police killing of two black men– then KILLS HIMSELF, does not fit any "potential terrorist" profile. His own mother suspected he had an undiagnosed mental illness. We will all be safer when this society rediscovers the benefits of long term mental health care in major hospitals specializing in this vast social plague.

For-Profit medical care is a human disaster!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   To: letters@providencejournal.com