Police Taser a Naked Man to Death to Prevent Him from Harming Himself?

It's a bad, bad case. But here are two essential problems: First, police and other public safety personnel don't receive nearly the education they should - if they receive it at all - in mental disorders and crises. There are easily and readily available means of de-escalation, but most officers view a psychotic break as tantamount to criminal resisting.

Secondly, we can't simultaneously call for extremely militarized police departments and expect them to approach any scene with calm and nonviolent intention. Every call is a battering ram through the door, a dozen guns pulled, percussion grenades and Tasers. My local department - in a two of 60 thousand, has a tank. A tank. We train police to expect a battle at every call, and while safety and preparation are vital, the fact is police are helpers as much as they are defenders. The same units trained for bio-terrorism and bombs isn't likely to approach a confused individual with any nuance of service. It's simply not considered a "sexy crime." Departments, more and more, attract those looking for a fight.