[Mpls] I'm scared of your police force

[Renee Jenson]

I'm going to be moving back to the Cities soon from WI.  I've been trying to decide where to live-St. Paul or Minneapolis when I move back.  I grew up between the two cities (where Larpenteur turns into Hennepin) so I feel like I grew up in both cities.    The one thing I am looking at very closely is the police force in each city.  Right now, both the Minneapolis and St. Paul police force scare me to death.  It's their attitude toward mental illness.   If you get a chance, read St. Paul Police Chief's Finney editorial in the Pioneer Press today.  It sends chills down my spine.  The lack of understanding about mental health issues is incredible.    I am a professional, law abiding woman.  I also have bipolar.  I've learned how to take very good care of myself and watch for danger signs of my disease.  But sometimes, like when the doctor withdraws medication too quickly or my mind just decides not to respond in the usual fashion to the medication, I can have some problems.  What I need to know, is when I'm having those problems, are the police going to respond appropriately or am I going to end up in jail or dead.   The Minneapolis police force doesn't have a great history of dealing with people with mental health issues either.  Yesterday I went to a funeral down at Westminster on the Nicollet Mall and I had to drive around a group of people protesting against police brutality.  If I hadn't been on my way to the funeral, I might have joined them.  I understand the City is considering entering into mediation on racial issues.  What is being done on mental health issues?   I don't want to live in the Burbs.  I love the electricity of Hennepin, the romance of Riverplace, the aloofness of Uptown, the panorama of Lake St., the beautiful parks where everyone meets, the Art galleriesand studios that are so plentiful,  etc. etc.  But I don't want to be shot if I am fighting off monster cats because my doctor withdrew my medication too quickly.  I want the police to understand that my reality isn't their reality if I am ever in crisis and they are called.    How about if all people who have mental health issues wear huge scarlet M's on their bosoms so they are readily identifiable by the police?  Would that help?  Tattoos?  Shave our heads?  Or maybe the City can just keep sweeping the problem under the rug and more people like me will get killed or thrown in jail.  I just don't want to be one of them.     Renee Jenson WI [EMAIL PROTECTED]