LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the main points in The Department of Justice’s report was the response to people with behavioral health disabilities.

The pattern or practice report found: “Louisville Metro and LMPD have subjected many individuals to an unnecessary or overly aggressive LMPD response during a behavioral health episode, violating the [Americans with Disabilities Act].”

According to Stewart Bridgman, the President and CEO of Bridgehaven Mental Health Services in Louisville, mental health professionals can more effectively help the person in crisis.

Louisville's Bridgehaven offers mental professionals and various therapy opportunities for people in need. (Spectrum News 1/Jordan Grantz)

“Each person is unique, and no problem is the same,” Bridgman said. 

The report also cited multiple instances where LMPD officers were: 

“Treating people with disabilities with contempt and callous disregard, underscoring the ineffective, harmful, and unequal response to situations involving behavioral health issues.”

Bridgman says that because of the complexity of some mental health issues, it’s important to have the person work with a mental health service or licensed therapist.

“There are so many different pieces, nobody can do that by themselves to help and provide different levels of support when they have a mental health emergency,” Bridgman said. 

Bridgman also suggested calling services like Seven Counties or UofL Peace Hospital in times of crisis, instead of just law enforcement officers.

“We can call those numbers instead of just calling 911. We can try to intervene early when we see that someone has a need. We can try to reach out and say, ‘hey I just need some information.’”

Interim LMPD Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel echoed Bridgman’s point.

“Having the social workers, having Seven Counties involved and responding to those scenes, is just really critical for us and we have fully embraced that and it is working,” Gwinn-Villaroel said. 

Several areas of the report address Bridgman’s and Gwinn-Villaroel’s point.

“A mobile crisis team—could have responded and resolved the crisis, either in conjunction with officers or, in some instances, without any involvement from LMPD.”