The death of Kelly Thomas, a schizophrenic homeless man, following a violent confrontation with police in Fullerton garnered national attention this month as grainy footage from security cameras and witness cell phones surfaced.
Tischler worries about another encounter with police.
“I’m terrified the police will find him and terrified they won’t,” said Tischler.
Particularly haunting is the fact that Thomas cried out, “Dad! Dad!” as Fullerton police officers surrounded and subdued him. Thomas, a 37-year-old schizophrenic man, died after police responded to a report of vehicle break-ins near the Fullerton Transportation Center on July 5. They attempted to search Thomas, who allegedly resisted. The confrontation became violent, and ended with Thomas in a coma. The six officers involved in the incident have been placed on leave, and Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers went on medical leave on Aug. 10. Thomas’ death has sparked outrage and focused attention on the plight of mentally ill, homeless people who fall through the cracks. His death has also raised awareness of the sorrow and stress faced by families of mentally ill adults.
Tischler created a Facebook page and YouTube video with photos of Shawn and contact information, and is pleading with the public for help. “Tell the paramedics he needs medical help.”
Laura’s Law, approved in 2002, allows California counties to mandate outpatient treatment for mentally ill adults who have a history of arrests and hospitalizations. However, Nevada County is the only California county that has enacted the law. Orange County is considering adopting Laura’s Law in the aftermath of Thomas’ death. After Thomas’ death, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) issued a statement calling for the City of Fullerton and its Police Department to conduct a thorough review of how officers are trained to interact with people who have serious mental illness. In Orange County, a two-day course called “Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement—Understanding the Mentally Ill on the Street” is available through Golden West College. The Orange County Health Care Agency contracts with Golden West College to offer the course to police officers from cities throughout Orange County, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies, local college and university police forces, and probation officers.
Taught by police officers and clinical psychologists, the course also includes a client panel composed of people who have been diagnosed with mental illness or their family members who have experienced contacts with police, Lowenberg said. Seal Beach Police officers regularly complete the crisis intervention course at Golden West, said Sgt. Steve Bowles. Los Alamitos Police officers have not yet attended the crisis intervention course, but some members of the department will take the class in September or October, according to Capt. Bruce McAlpine. More than 900 law enforcement officers from Orange County have completed the crisis intervention course since October 2008, the Health Care Agency reports. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment about current or future training for deputies who may respond to calls involving the homeless mentally ill.
More than 200 protestors gathered Saturday outside the Fullerton Police Department and City Hall to protest the death of Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old homeless man who went into a coma and died last month after a violent arrest.
Chants of "Release the video" were a constant reminder of the recent news that police officers had been allowed to watch a video of the arrest before writing their reports. The Orange County District Attorney's Office said releasing the tape would taint witness testimony.
Thomas was schizophrenic.
Maribel Chavez, 18, left, and Monica Noria, 16, both of Anaheim, chant during a protest Saturday about the beating death of Kelly Thomas.
Thomas died five days later after being taken off life support.
Six Fullerton police officers have been placed on paid leave pending an investigation by the county district attorney, and the family has filed a legal claim against the city. Riots tore South Central Los Angeles in 1992 after four police officers were acquitted in the videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King.
Police Chief Michael Sellers has called Thomas' death "a tragedy for our community" but offered no description or sequence of events that evening. The six officers have not been officially identified. Rackauckas said last week he has seen no evidence the officers intentionally tried to kill Thomas and that his investigators have not determined if the officers used excessive force.
It was captured by a surveillance camera controlled by Fullerton police. Ron Thomas, Kelly's father, a former investigator for the Orange County sheriff's department, wants murder charges filed. Thomas said.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocacy group, called on the city to provide better training in dealing with the mentally ill.
There are protests every weekend at the police station, and city leaders' silence has sparked recall petitions.