In the wake of the tragic Easter morning shooting of a 23-year-old Folsom man, many are wondering who they should call if they are in a similar situation with a family member.

On April 12, three police officers responded to Joseph Han’s home for welfare check in the 100 block of Elkins Circle. According to various accounts from police and family members, Han hadn’t slept or eaten food for a few days and reportedly was hallucinating.

When police made contact with him, Han allegedly became aggressive, brandishing a knife at the officers. One officer used his Taser, firing both wire-guided probes at Han. When the Taser didn’t stop Han and his alleged hostile actions escalated, the other two officers drew their sidearms and ordered the young man to drop the knife.

According to police, Han didn’t. Concerned for their own safety and that of the Han family, the officers fired the weapons, hitting Han. He later died of his wounds at the UC Davis Medical Center.

The three officers are now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.

Since the shooting, some people are supporting the cops’ actions while others — including Han’s family and friends — are questioning the use of lethal force.

Those commenting on the Telegraph’s coverage online have even wondered if the Hans could have sought help from somewhere other than the police.

Tom Pinizzotto, emeritus director of the California Mental Health Directors Association, said that there are other options.

“The emergency room. If the family can transport the person to the nearest ER, then a doctor can take a look at him and make a determination,” he said. “That’s one viable option.”

Pinizzotto explained that there are several groups and organizations that people can contact.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, he said, is a good start.

“NAMI is a large group dedicated to helping the mentally ill and being a resource of information and support for their family members. I urge people to contact them,” he said.

Pinizzotto said that contacting clergy can be very helpful during a crisis situation.

“People need to know that there are some options out there for them, if they need help during a crisis,” he said.

While families can seek out other options, law enforcement agencies also have an option open to them as well.

“In many situations, police officers find themselves in the position of being social workers,” Michael Summers observed.

A veteran law enforcement officer with more than 30 years of service, he now works for the Yolo County Department of Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services as the Crisis Intervention Team (C.I.T.) coordinator.

C.I.T. training for law enforcement officers came about as a response to lack of proper training, Summers said.

“It’s not the individual officer’s fault. See, during (law enforcement academy), cadets receive more than 900 hours of training,” he explained. “You know how many hours of training and education about the mentally ill cadets receive?”

He said they receive six hours of training and education.

“In those six hours, cadets are instructed how to deal with mentally ill people. That’s it,” Summers said.

CIT originated when the Memphis, Tenn., police department joined forces with the local NAMI chapter, he said.

“Its purpose was to give officers better training in dealing with the mentally ill and those with other disabilities,” he said.

He said it gives officers a “better understanding” of what the mentally ill face each and every day.

Summers said that an average CIT training seminar consists of 32 hours of intensive training, spread over four days.

Summers said that many agencies across the country have embraced the CIT program. Locally, many law enforcement agents in Yolo and Sacramento counties have taken the course.

“Law enforcement is starting to realize, albeit slowly in some places, that their officers need proper training when dealing with the mentally ill,” he said.

For more information on CIT, Michael Summers can be contacted at (530) 666-8516 or disabilityresponse@yahoo.com.

In the know:

- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

364-1642 or www.namisacramento.org

- The Sacramento Mental Health Center

www.sacdhhs.com

- Mental Health Crisis Prevention Line:

732-3637 available 24 hours a day

- Adult Access Team: 875-1055

- The National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255

- Local clergy

Next week The Telegraph will look at other programs law enforcement agencies use to educate their officers about dealing with the mentally ill.