Addressing the issue of mental illness & the danger people undergoing psychiatric crises face from police, I recall one of the best definition of contemporary law enforcement, from a working cop: Police, he said, provide services not otherwise available.

Pretty much.

So as public health, & mental health services in particular tend to be first on the chopping block during lean budget times, police are left to deal with crises they have no training or inclination to handle. Even when deadly force seems justified—e.g. a cop about to be overwhelmed by a much larger assailant & possibly lose control of his or her weapon—we have to ask what were they doing there in the first place? That's the problem. Or at least part of it.

We need better alternatives to deal with mental & public health problems.