Yes DreamOn as I mentioned at the very beginning of the thread, the bleeding hearts & the do gooders have to take much of the blame for these deaths.

They & some ratbag psychiatrists pushed for the closure of mental institutions, so now many who should be locked up for their & our safety are having to be dealt with by the cops in emergency situations, on the street.

It is a source of continual annoyance to me, that these people so often get it wrong, but continue stuffing up in the same jobs, long after they have proved their incompetence.

We really do need to start sacking public servants who are proven failures at their jobs.

Hi there all...

Thinking to myself on what other options might be available to police whenever confronted with similar situations...? Clearly this unfortunate lady suffered from a mental illness ? FOXY quoted a Prof KENNEDY (apparently an experienced ex cop) calling for a better approach, and different style of training for police, who are confronting 'armed' individuals who do suffer from a mental illness ?

With all due respects to Prof KENNEDY, what better training does he suggest precisely ? What does a mentally ill person look like ? All of those who've engaged in violent crime, display all manner of behaviours that I've witnessed over time ? Some are supremely calm, others are screaming uncontrollable, and everything in between. Which have a mental illness ?

Be unequivocally assured, I've had far more formal training in these tactical matters, than Prof KENNEDY ? Am I 'blowing my own trumpet', NO, I'm stating a fact.

No expert irrespective of their acclaim and qualifications, should make public statements about any event that he'd NOT witnessed. Clearly that may cause pain and distress to ALL concerned. It's the Coroner who possesses the powers, and can draw upon any and all expertise he sees fit, nobody else.

That would include people such as myself. If the Coroner sought my opinion, and commentary on any part of the job, then I'll be called to give evidence ! Otherwise, you'd not hear a peep from me, in any public setting ? Why, because I wasn't there, consequently I'm not in possession of all the facts. As a side issue, any Coroner who'd be sufficiently ill-advised to call me for expertise, would indeed be 'certifiable', as I now have difficulty remembering my own name !

Still I do understand there are those who wish public exposure, for a reason or reasons only known to themselves ? I have given 'expert' evidence in serious criminal matters in the past, and learnt the necessity to maintain you're 'own counsel', if or until, your professional opinion is properly sought, and in the correct forum !

Hi HASBEEN...

Your annoyance is easily explainable my friend, in fact you're probably better acquainted with the knowledge then I. For some inexplicable reason, whenever a problem is identified, or additional revenue is sought, our political leaders still prefer to consult with academics.

Apropos revenue I'll concede well established economists should always be sought, but also your ordinary everyday suburban CPA should be consulted as well ? After all, the economists sees the macro-economic picture which is necessary. Whereas it's your CPA that can accurately measure any impact, those government strategies might have, on the ordinary Mums and Dads, as well as the effect that may occur to the success or otherwise of small business. After all, many of the experts claim, it's Small Business that's the essential life-blood of Australia.

Housing and treating the mentally ill - again not only should the most eminent psychiatric doctors be consulted when problems and changes are found necessary. But it's the health workers, ambo's, police, social workers, in other words all those other 'stake holders' (I detest that term!) engaged in providing services to the mentally ill, all of whom should be heard and their suggestions if they've merit, should be enacted. For it's these people who are at the coal face with these special patients, and understand their peculiar needs and concerns best !

And to allay unnecessary public concern, those I/C should regularly reassure society, of the continued welfare and safety of all mentally ill patients. Furthermore reassure them, that they're closely monitored and well cared for, obviously for the collective benefit of everybody in the community.

*HasBeen*

Community treatment often times produces the best results in terms of achieving and maintaining stability, but patients aren't released unless they are judged to be neither a threat to themselves nor to anyone else.

Where it can go wrong is in the follow up and this in turn really comes down to funding. To follow your line of reasoning though, I would agree that if the politicians aren't going to fund the follow up support, then arguably the policy needs to be rethought.

It's just another case of scum bag politicians not honouring their word and their commitments.

Additionally, some of the mentally ill who have had unfortunate encounters with the cops are those who have either recently broken down or otherwise not yet come to the attention of the brain dopers.

The cops have to be braver and better trained in non-lethal take down techniques, with lethal force really only being used as an absolute last resort. For that of course, they may well deserve a pay rise.

..

As for shooting civilians, I found the news that it was actually the cops who shot the barrister and not the so called terrorist to be rather amusing. But then, I have a particular disdain for money grubbing lawyers who turn people out to financial ruin, prison and miscarriage of justice when they are unable to meet their ridiculous fees. The whole industry is a very bad joke and Australians need to wake up and give some other people a go at the top job, and preferably ones who will evolve the remorseless money grubbing legal system into a universal justice system.

A synthetic Sjambok would be perfect for some situations, the offender with the big knife could be an example.

Imagine the howls of protest though from those who like to be regarded as 'do-gooders', even though lives would be saved. Police disarmed her with a Sjambok, isn't that a whip?, so terrible!

All emotion and not practical - bleeding hearts, but others (easily dispensable men) must take the risks and consequences :(

Dear Beach, can I take it from your post, you are the opposite to a 'Do-gooder' and see yourself as a 'Do-bader'. Do you agree it would be a better world if more people went around "doing good" and less of the "doing bad" stuff?
Can I ask, is the opposite to a bleeding heart, a heartless person, with no emotion, just full of all that practical stuff?