Discussions

Brandon woman is concerned for the time the police took to get to her home when a woman came into her house in a state of paranoia, agitated....  
 
Apparently it was 6:30 on a Thursday night and they took more than 45 minutes.  
 
Thoughts? I think that is an excessive amount of time.  
 
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/brandon-resident-concerned-by-police-response-time-after-agitated-woman-barges-into-home-1.3868606

Doesn't sound like it was the police that were slow to respond but rather the 911 dispatchers slow to send them. 40 minutes from the initial 911 call until an officer was dispatched?? 9 minutes for officers to arrive after being dispatched seems fairly reasonable in a city the size of Brandon. I would say the issue is with 911.  
 
But also a friendly reminder to keep your doors locked. A lot of meth zombies wandering around out there...

For sure.Someone dropped the ball on this and although the homeowner was trying to help, things could have gone south quickly..Arresting meth addicts being arrested and released for a court date isn’t helping the problem. Do I have an answer? No. Definitely need an addiction house to at least try to help the ones that want to be helped,

for emergencies? Although the 'woman' gained access to the home she wasn't hurting any one. The homeowner let the woman call police herself. Maybe this woman that called for help was well known to police? If the woman was holding a knife and threatening to hurt the family then that's a serious reason to call 911 and the police would have made the call a priority.  
 
We had a high woman trying to open our door (thankfully locked), trying to get into the shed and climb the sloped roof and we called police (not 911) and it took a long time too. Number one, it wasn't an emergency, number two she wasn't hurting or damaging anything. I don't imagine that the water lily she was trying to eat was good for her though. Plus when the police did get here they said that they were busy, did I believe them? yup!

Brenda.. said "Brandon woman is concerned for the time the police took to get to her home when a woman came into her house in a state of paranoia, agitated....     Apparently it was 6:30 on a Thursday night and they took more than 45 minutes.     Thoughts? I think that is an excessive amount of time.     https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/brandon-resident-concerned-by-police-response-time-after-agitated-woman-barges-into-home-1.3868606 "

Based on the minimal amount of information provided here, it appears that Police responded appropriately but perhaps the 911 dispatchers were the ones who dropped the ball and didn't send out a unit when they should have.

If someone calls 9-1-1 And says she needs the police because someone is trying to 'll her-does a dispatcher really write that off as a non Emergency, as the above post seems to suggest should be the case? I am not sure i agree with that. While it might seem the woman was high on something and paranoid...could anyone be 100% sure that the threat wasn't real and the woman was actually terrified out of her mind? If it were my house she burst into, Yes, i would want the police to arrive ASAP. I agree it is unacceptable for it to take such a long time for the operator to dispatch an officer. No doubt the officers were busy, but the call should have gone out to them so that they could respond ASAP.

I think it is an unacceptable length of time to wait for police assistance, however I do believe the wait time might not have been as long if the homeowners had made the initial call themselves reporting that a stranger who appeared high on drugs entered their home uninvited and children were present.

Is a call for help. A cat in a tree isn’t an emergency as we all know. Someone entering a home in an agitated state is an emergency.This could have gone terribly wrong very very quickly. If the dispatcher is the one who dropped the ball(and it sounds like it is), then answers should be given to the homeowner.

How do you all seem to know it was the dispatchers? Am I missing something? Maybe there were more emergent calls at the same time that in turn took the police longer to respond. I’ll wait until both sides respond prior to passing judgement!

Coffeeplz said "How do you all seem to know it was the dispatchers? Am I missing something? Maybe there were more emergent calls at the same time that in turn took the police longer to respond. I’ll wait until both sides respond prior to passing judgement! "

also agree with you.  
We have only heard one side of this "story".

Was at 6:44. Second call. 7:09. Third call 7:24... police were then dispatched.

It’s definitely concerning, but we’re only hearing one side of the story, so it’s hard to form an opinion based on that. But I don’t get why the women didn’t contact the chief of police for an explanation before going to CTV. Get their side of the story.

Tamara79 said "I think it is an unacceptable length of time to wait for police assistance, however I do believe the wait time might not have been as long if the homeowners had made the initial call themselves reporting that a stranger who appeared high on drugs entered their home uninvited and children were present. "

had walked into my home and I couldn't escort her out I would call police for help. However and for whatever reason the homeowner was not the one to make the call for help. Therefore it didn't sound like an emergency.  
 
Save 911 for life threatening issues!

Johnbisonbear said "    Tamara79 said "I think it is an unacceptable length of time to wait for police assistance, however I do believe the wait time might not have been as long if the homeowners had made the initial call themselves reporting that a stranger who appeared high on drugs entered their home uninvited and children were present. " had walked into my home and I couldn't escort her out I would call police for help. However and for whatever reason the homeowner was not the one to make the call for help. Therefore it didn't sound like an emergency.     Save 911 for life threatening issues! "

I have had a drunk/drugged out woman come into my house a few years ago. She thought it was her home. I was alone with my infant at the time. I called 911 and they arrived within a decent amount of time. She kept trying to go upstairs to where my son was sleeping but I had to "corral" her back to the living room and try and be nice to her. Its nerve racking when someone is out of their mind and in your home and you are trying to diffuse the situation, that is what 911 is for. This wasn't an emergency yet but it could had quickly turned into one, these people are not in their right minds. It can turn life threatening in the blink of an eye.

People with mental illness are more likely to be victimized than to become violent. Often, the aggression that is presented is from a stress response. How one user handled a home invader was an excellent example of de-escalation. Always assuming a situation or encounter with someone can be de-escalated is a pivitol key to managing the effects of drug-induced psychosis, or mental-illness related psychosis.  
What often is required is a non-provacative approach, aiming to create a calming environment, rather than "egging" someone on.  
 
Currently, there is an increased rate of addiction without a lack of resources in our communities to meet the needs of those affected. We need more addiction counsellors, we need more in-patient treatment beds, we need street-crisis workers, we need buy in with local enforment agencies in the management and care for persons with addictions, we need community awareness and support for persons with mental illness and addictions, we need more volunteers for community based programs, we need more homeless shelters....  
There are many communities that need the resources, education, and facilities to improve supports to persons facing acute mental illness and addictions. The addict that walks into your home in the middle of the night, could have had a job and a family many months ago until their addiction cost them all of that, and the view/bias of this incredulous disease needs to change so the stigma and shame that creates barriers to treatment are removed and we can work at creating healthy and productive citizens that produce incredible results in their home communities again, and who knows, even help others going through similar circumstances.  
 
I was looking around the internet and found this author accurately described an approach that can be effective.  
 
https://www.madinamerica.com/2014/03/de-escalating-folks-psychotic-potentially-violent/  
 
Another website of excellent information can be found here:  
 
http://www.ccdus.ca/Eng/newsevents/national-addictions-awareness-week/Pages/default.aspx  
 
We all have the opportunity at reducing stigma and violence. Lets work together at reducing barriers to treatment.

eros86 said "People with mental illness are more likely to be victimized than to become violent. Often, the aggression that is presented is from a stress response. How one user handled a home invader was an excellent example of de-escalation. Always assuming a situation or encounter with someone can be de-escalated is a pivitol key to managing the effects of drug-induced psychosis, or mental-illness related psychosis.   What often is required is a non-provacative approach, aiming to create a calming environment, rather than "egging" someone on.     Currently, there is an increased rate of addiction without a lack of resources in our communities to meet the needs of those affected. We need more addiction counsellors, we need more in-patient treatment beds, we need street-crisis workers, we need buy in with local enforment agencies in the management and care for persons with addictions, we need community awareness and support for persons with mental illness and addictions, we need more volunteers for community based programs, we need more homeless shelters....   There are many communities that need the resources, education, and facilities to improve supports to persons facing acute mental illness and addictions. The addict that walks into your home in the middle of the night, could have had a job and a family many months ago until their addiction cost them all of that, and the view/bias of this incredulous disease needs to change so the stigma and shame that creates barriers to treatment are removed and we can work at creating healthy and productive citizens that produce incredible results in their home communities again, and who knows, even help others going through similar circumstances.     I was looking around the internet and found this author accurately described an approach that can be effective.     https://www.madinamerica.com/2014/03/de-escalating-folks-psychotic-potentially-violent/     Another website of excellent information can be found here:     http://www.ccdus.ca/Eng/newsevents/national-addictions-awareness-week/Pages/default.aspx     We all have the opportunity at reducing stigma and violence. Lets work together at reducing barriers to treatment. "

have derailed the intent of this thread.  
 
While I do agree with what you have discussed here in its entirety, the point brought up was the response time by Police. That is it. Not how the individual was treated by the homeowners, the police or otherwise.  
 
And if someone broke into my house who appeared to be high on drugs or not, I most certainly would be calling 911 as they have no right to be in my home without invitation.  
 
Also.. where was it ever mentioned this person suffered from a MH issue.  
 
You need to start another thread.

Is there a chance the 911 operator had a valid reason to not dispatch right away? She knew the caller? She may know some drugs wear out quickly? My bet is there was not a officer available to dispatch. If Police are on Multiple calls does 911 not know the where abouts and such. Then Triages the calls?  
 
The Police can not be everywhere. It sounds like a scary nite turned out ok.

Whoknows123 said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Tamara79 said "I think it is an unacceptable length of time to wait for police assistance, however I do believe the wait time might not have been as long if the homeowners had made the initial call themselves reporting that a stranger who appeared high on drugs entered their home uninvited and children were present. " had walked into my home and I couldn't escort her out I would call police for help. However and for whatever reason the homeowner was not the one to make the call for help. Therefore it didn't sound like an emergency.     Save 911 for life threatening issues! " I have had a drunk/drugged out woman come into my house a few years ago. She thought it was her home. I was alone with my infant at the time. I called 911 and they arrived within a decent amount of time. She kept trying to go upstairs to where my son was sleeping but I had to "corral" her back to the living room and try and be nice to her. Its nerve racking when someone is out of their mind and in your home and you are trying to diffuse the situation, that is what 911 is for. This wasn't an emergency yet but it could had quickly turned into one, these people are not in their right minds. It can turn life threatening in the blink of an eye. "

then tell us why the homeowner didn't make the call herself? I never once read in the story that they were scared poopless of the woman that breached their home.

I too would have called 911. Seems like a no brainer. Especially with a child in the house. Maybe she thought better chances letting the lady call? Who knows. She must of had her reasons. From what I get the lady called dispatch first and said people were after her trying to kill her....is that right? (I read that article a while so now). If it is correct tho why would the dispatcher disregard that? Regardless, if someone who is unstable allows themselves into my home wth my kids the police better show up and quick!

Johnbisonbear said "    Whoknows123 said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Tamara79 said "I think it is an unacceptable length of time to wait for police assistance, however I do believe the wait time might not have been as long if the homeowners had made the initial call themselves reporting that a stranger who appeared high on drugs entered their home uninvited and children were present. " had walked into my home and I couldn't escort her out I would call police for help. However and for whatever reason the homeowner was not the one to make the call for help. Therefore it didn't sound like an emergency.     Save 911 for life threatening issues! " I have had a drunk/drugged out woman come into my house a few years ago. She thought it was her home. I was alone with my infant at the time. I called 911 and they arrived within a decent amount of time. She kept trying to go upstairs to where my son was sleeping but I had to "corral" her back to the living room and try and be nice to her. Its nerve racking when someone is out of their mind and in your home and you are trying to diffuse the situation, that is what 911 is for. This wasn't an emergency yet but it could had quickly turned into one, these people are not in their right minds. It can turn life threatening in the blink of an eye. " then tell us why the homeowner didn't make the call herself? I never once read in the story that they were scared poopless of the woman that breached their home. "

They didn't want to scare the intruder, it might aggravate them if they know the cops are coming for them. It was a thought that crossed my mind when I was calling. I actually ran outside of my own house really quick to make the call so I didn't alert her and agitate her even more. The woman was not welcome in the home she did not belong there.

CTV actually sought this women out (at her work) on their own and asked her to tell her story....they went to her, at her work, not police, or the 911 call centre....one sided media....tainting the public....so annoying and frustrating!