Police Action in Man’s Death

* The tragic death of Stephen Bayer, which appears to be a “suicide by cop,” should send a loud message to Ventura law enforcement and mental health care professionals to strengthen their working relationship for dealing with such individuals in distress.

The fact that Sgt. Barry Perrou of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training division was called in is an excellent first step. In the San Gabriel Valley, a collaboration between Pacific Clinics and law enforcement professionals has led to the formation of a steering committee called MILES (Mental Illness Law Enforcement Systems). For the past seven years, the committee has worked together to establish more effective approaches when dealing with people under extreme distress and hosts an annual educational forum addressing such topics as suicide and violence and its victims. As a member of the MILES steering committee, Dr. Perrou has facilitated numerous training sessions to prepare officers for the challenges they face when confronted with a mentally ill or psychologically troubled individual.

Stephen Bayer was crying for help. Mental health experts and officers on the scene could not convince him that life was a better alternative. We need to support these professionals, who increasingly are faced with similar dilemmas, with increased education and awareness.

NANCY E. HOCHSTEIN

Ventura

*

* Re “Police Action in Man’s Death,” Jan. 24 letter about recent police shooting in Simi Valley.

So Paul Finman thinks the police should have waited to let Stephen Bayer’s father talk to him during the armed standoff. I get tired of the Monday morning quarterbacks who seem to know exactly what the police should have done in these situations. But then again, they aren’t actually there, facing down some crazy with a gun. There are too many police officers killed in the line of duty by just that sort of individual.

GREGG DANIELS

Fillmore

*

* Letter writer Paul F. Finman should be honoring those individuals whom Stephen Bayer shot at on the morning of Jan. 18.

Did Bayer allow the people he shot at the right to call their spouses and children before trying to kill them? No, he didn’t, and I am one of those spouses who didn’t receive a call until it was all over.

Bayer was an adult and he paid the ultimate price for the decisions he made that morning. Even though Bayer was despondent, he was well aware of what was happening that night.

I regret Mr. Finman’s calling the police mindless. Simi Valley has one of the best police agencies in the nation, and I am proud of the officers who protect our city. Mr. Finman, give your police more credit. They deserve it.

JEFFREY W. STEINHOFF

Simi Valley