Law enforcement and the mentally ill
Sheriff’s Sgt. Annadennise Briz, left, and Deputy Gabriela Ververa walk a man into Exodus, a mental health urgent care center near L. A. County-USC Medical Center. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Mental health evaluation team psychiatric social worker Brittaney Dennis, left and Deputy Gabriela Vervara at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, where a man arrived with a gun at the grave of his son.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Annadennise Briz listens to a radio call in her office in South El Monte. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is the first in the L.A. area to deploy mental evaluation teams.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Psychiatric social worker Brittaney Dennis on her way to a call involving a mentally ill person.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
A deputy speaks to a mental health team to visit a man living in a campsite above Malibu.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
An L.A. County sheriff’s team walk down a steep hillside in Malibu on their way to pay a visit to a man camping in the area.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)