Americans have been calling on police to change how they deal with citizens in crises (危机), especially those with mental health problems.
Police are usually the first to arrive at a serious incident and are trained to deal with crime and violent behavior. But a law enforcement (执行) agency in the central state of Illinois has found a new way to handle mental health cases. It is using video calls to calm difficult situations.
Restrictions ordered to stop the spread of the new coronavirus have left many people alone in their homes without support. Many people are unable to find mental health services or unwilling to go out and risk being infected with COVID-19.
The Cook County sheriff’s (警长) office led by Sheriff Tom Dart has faced many emergency calls about mental health crises recently. Such calls have increased by 60 percent this year. Dart said police officers are being asked more and more to arrive first to mental health cases. He said officers are being asked to do things they are not trained for or for which they have little training.
Dart said some programs have mental health professionals riding in a vehicle with law enforcement officers. That works for smaller communities. But Cook County, which includes the city of Chicago, is very big.
“We wanted a tool for the officers to get that mental health expert on the scene immediately,” said Elli Petaque-Montgomery, a team director.
So far, the department has 70 personal electronic devices (设备). They are used to make video calls. The department bought 35 with aid money when the program began. It bought 35 more when it became clear the number of calls, which is now past 50, would increase.
Sometimes a lack of wireless service or another reason has not permitted a video call. The department said this has happened 20 times. In those cases, officers set up a telephone call between the person in crisis and a mental health professional.
Four mental health experts have been joined by four more to answer calls. Dart said the cost of the experts and the devices is much less than what it would cost to send out many mental health professionals with police.
4. What do you know about the emergency calls received?
A.The officers don’t want to take care of them. |
B.They involve 60% of the American citizens. |
C.No professionals are available for the cases. |
D.They are mainly about mental health issues. |
5. What is the third paragraph meant to tell us?
A.The contributor to the health crises. | B.The spread of the deadly virus. |
C.The loneliness citizens suffer from. | D.The urgency to take measures. |
6. How does the department ease the pressure from the tough situation?
A.It has had the officers trained. | B.It has introduced video calls. |
C.It has narrowed down its duty. | D.It calls on citizens to stay fit. |
7. Which of the following best describes the practice?
A.Well-received and handy. | B.Ground-breaking but risky. |
C.Efficient and cost-saving. | D.Functional but controversial. |