The de Blasio administration announced Nov. 10 that over the next year, it will have Emergency Medical Service workers serve as first-responders to cases involving Emotionally Disturbed Persons within two police precincts, taking over work that has long been performed by cops.
It is an attempt to minimize the possibility of dealings with EDPs taking a turn for the worse that leads to the use of lethal force. Oren Barzilay, the president of the union representing Emergency Medical Technicians, in an interview with this newspaper's Bob Hennelly expressed mixed feelings about taking over this chore without cops immediately available to assist. His members will be accompanied by a mental-health professional who can offer a quick assessment of whether the person they are dealing with is on the verge of losing control.
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