This letter is in response to the column by Elise Patkotak in the July 5 paper. She says a person in a mental health crisis needs a mental health counselor to respond, not a cop. Fortunately, a large number of our Anchorage police have had mental health training. Thanks to Yvonne Evans and the Anchorage chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), many of our police officers have had training in how to respond to a mental health call. We should be proud of this and continue this program for new hires.
Mary Fairbanks
Anchorage
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