Proposed Virginia law would have mental health experts dispatched to assist police

A portion of the police reform agenda being addressed during the General Assembly’s special session involving law enforcement treatment of those with mental health issues was approved by a Virginia Senate committee.

The legislation would establish an alert system that would have workers in the mental health sector of care dispatched to police calls to help stabilize a potentially harmful situation for the suspect and the officers.

The bill will carry the name of Richmond teacher Marcus David-Peters- a man shot and killed by officers while he was having a mental episode crisis.

(PHOTO: Unsplash)