SHOOTING THE MENTALLY ILL

In light of what is happening in Ferguson Mo. we as citizens of Phoenix should remind ourselves that the

only part of our criminal justice system that can arrest, judge, act as jury and executioner is the police.

As reported by the Republic, four officers not serving a criminal warrant, but a court order to hospitalize

a mentally ill person, were threatened with a hammer. They had time to tell the person to drop the

weapon twice and then shot and killed her. To warn the person twice allowed ample time to back away

draw tasers and fire. A 19 year veteran and a sergeant no less, should have better options in this case

than deadly force. Maybe this is not a matter for a police review or review by the DA. but a review by

the Grand Jury allowing citizens to consider this matter.