THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 11, 1996 TAG: 9605110007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Regarding Michael Dailey's ``Lay off the policemen'' (letter, April 27) regarding the police officer who shot and killed Michael Grandelli, who was mentally ill: Mr. Dailey stated that Michael Grandelli's father should have been more responsible and accountable for his son. Obviously, Mr. Dailey is not aware of the laws that protect the rights of the mentally ill.
Mentally ill patients can be committed involuntarily only if they are suicidal, homicidal or unable to care for themselves. If you're lucky enough to prove any of these three criteria, then the hospitals will take the patient but keep him/her for only seven to 10 days, until he/she is stabilized. The law protects the mentally ill person and prevents parents or family members from seeking long-term treatment.
Police officers need to be trained on how to detect when someone is mentally ill and/or psychotic. Also, if Michael Grandelli was well-known in the community and by the police department, why wasn't his situation handled differently? A stun gun or mace would have surely been more appropriate and less harmful.
The problem is with the system and the law regarding the rights of the mentally ill - not with the police department. Patient rights prevent parents from knowing even the whereabouts of a mentally ill adult child. We need to utilize our energies to help change the laws so that the mentally ill who are at high risk to themselves and others can be institutionalized for longer than 10 days.
Instead of the law protecting the mentally ill, how about a law empowering parents and family members to protect the mentally ill family member? When family is prohibited by law from even knowing where a mentally ill family member is living, society becomes responsible and accountable for the overall welfare and safety of our mentally ill and homeless in order to protect the community.
CHARLOTTE P. SITZLER
Kill Devil Hills, N.C., April 28, 1996 by CNB