INDIANAPOLIS — INDIANAPOLIS — Local lawmakers are pushing for more funding to handle emergency calls focused on mental health.
In April, Herman Whitfield III died in IMPD custody.
His family said he was having a mental health episode.
Wednesday, the coroner's autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
"We have to work on how do we fund more IMPD officers that have that training to deal with people with mental health," Rep. Robin Shackleford said.
Shackleford said she plans to help get IMPD and the mayor's office more money in hopes to staff the city's Mobile Crisis Assistance Team (MCAT) and a pilot clinician-led program to address mental health calls in the community.
Right now, MCAT only responds Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
They weren't working the night Whitfield III's parents called 911 for help because that was on a weekend.
"A lot of these issues are happening on weekends on evenings if someone is going to have an episode. So, just make sure we are getting funding for these types of programs and trying to help out the mayor as much as possible," Shackleford said.
Representative Shackleford says she's planning to ask the state to divert some of the $100 million it recently received to expand mental health services for officer training.
-
Gov. Eric Holcomb reflects on his 8 years serving the state of Indiana
Governor Eric Holcomb will leave office on January 13th, after serving Indiana for eight years. WRTV sat down with him to talk about his tenure.
Person critically injured in downtown Indianapolis shooting
One person is in critical condition after being shot in the 800 block of Indiana Avenue in downtown Indianapolis Tuesday night.
Westfield teenager paralyzed in trampoline accident comes home from hospital
16-year-old Corban Phillips was paralyzed from the waist down in a trampoline accident this summer. He has been undergoing treatment for his injuries in Denver but comes home this week.
2 organizations hope to help residents struggling with food insecurity
Nearly a third of Marion County residents need food assistance to put food on the table. The Mobile Community Grocery Store and IU Health's Nutrition Hub hope to help those struggling.
