NYAPRS Note: NYAPRS is proud to support the work of the Communities for Crisis Intervention Teams as they advocate for a legislative bill that would secure implementation of crisis response teams in NYC. We are working with legislators to promote passage of this bill and with policy makers to promote understanding of the strategy.
**PRESS CONFERENCE MEDIA ADVISORY**
Contacts:
Carla Rabinowitz | w: (212) 780-1400, ext. 7726 c: (917) 826-6747 | crabinowitz@communityaccess.org
John Williams | (212) 780-1400, ext. 7772 | jwilliams@communityaccess.org
State Senator Kevin Parker joins fellow officials and a 50-strong coalition to promote the passage of a New York State Senate bill calling for specially trained crisis intervention teams to improve police responses to 911 call involving individuals with mental health concerns
(New York, NY) On Wednesday, February 19 at 11 a.m., State Senator Kevin Parker will announce a new bill he has introduced. Successful passage of the bill (S6365) will make it possible for the NYPD to respond more effectively to the 100,000 “emotionally disturbed person” (EDP) calls it receives each year – through the establishment of new Crisis Intervention Teams, and better police training. He will be joined by Assembly Member Jeffrion Aubry – who is introducing same-as legislation in the Assembly – Assembly Member Carmen Arroyo, Borough President and former police officer Eric Adams, and members of the Communities for Crisis Intervention Teams (CCIT NYC): a coalition of 50 behavioral health providers and concerned citizens.
Crisis Intervention Teams have a proven track-record of success in 2,700 communities throughout the U.S. They divert mental health recipients away from the criminal justice system, reduce instances of traumatic (sometimes fatal) encounters between the police and mental health recipients, and improve safety and security for citizens in emotional crisis, bystanders, and police officers.
WHO:
State Senator Kevin Parker
Assembly Member Carmen Arroyo
Assembly Member Jeffrion Aubry
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams
and
Steve Coe, CEO, Community Access
Carla Rabinowitz, Coordinator, CCIT NYC
Wendy Brennan, Executive Director, NAMI NYC-Metro
Sandra Mitchell, President, Disability Committee, National Action Network
Professor Suzanne LaFont (victim of a traumatizing police-EDP encounter)
Sahar Khoshakhlagh (victim of a traumatizing police-EDP encounter)
Family of Rexford Dasrath (young man killed during police-EDP encounter)
WHEN:
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
11 a.m.
WHERE:
City Hall steps
New York, NY 10007
MORE INFO:
New York Times: Professors Detail Brutal Tangle With Police (article about Suzanne LaFont)
Brooklyn News12: Family of Rexford Dasrath, a special needs man killed by NYPD officers, holds rally for families of victims of police shootings
CBS New York: Experts, Lawyers Want Changes To NYPD Response To Emotionally Disturbed People
Epoch Times: Hit by Stray NYPD Bullet, a Victim Turns to Advocacy (article about Sahar Khoshakhlagh)
For more information, visit: www.ccitnyc.org