RCMP looks to expand its crisis teams to avoid violent conflicts during mental health calls – CBC
Some RCMP divisions pair a Mountie with a nurse — but the arrangement isn’t available everywhere
Dec 21, 2022
The call came in close to the end of RCMP Const. Lorri Kokkola’s shift on a cold, cloudy day in Red Deer, Alta.
“He has some delusions right now that are very real. They’ve escalated,” said the woman on the other end.
“His comment was, ‘Somebody’s gotta f—ing die before anyone believes me. So I have to kill myself.'”
Kokkola headed to the man’s apartment, but she wasn’t alone. Riding shotgun was John Obelienius, a psychiatric nurse with more than a decade of experience.
She and Obelienius make up what’s known as a PACT — a police and crisis team. Kokkola entered the man’s apartment first but Obelienius ended up doing most of the talking.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-mental-health-units-1.6680912
