Department of Justice says Phoenix discriminates against people with mental illnesses

For the last four years, Jane Jepson has spent most of her time awake in her bedroom with the doors bolted shut.

A large bolt, two-by-fours and brackets seal her inside when schizophrenia convinces Jepson’s son that she’s an imposter.

KJZZ is not identifying Jepson’s son. He chose to not take part in this story.

Jepson didn’t recognize his symptoms when they emerged about a decade ago.

She finally sought help when a threat to stab her while she slept made fear for her own safety stronger than her love for him.

"That's something that we train when we talk to families, is if you call 911, you can never take it back. You can't say, ‘nevermind,’” said Jepson. “People will put up with behaviors that they probably shouldn't because they're so fearful about calling for help.”

Jepson said her son has had at least a half-dozen encounters with Phoenix police in recent years. Police responded when Jepson’s son strangled her until she was unconscious. His behavior after wrecking a car led to an officer pointing a gun at Jepson.

None of these incidents were cited by the U.S. Department of Justice in a blistering findings report capping a years-long, sweeping investigation of the city and Police Department.

Phoenix acknowledges missteps, but says about a decade has been spent working to accomplish a wide range of reforms. The department now has 500 to 600 officers with crisis intervention training. The detective who leads the program says they work out of every precinct on every shift.

The DOJ says the city and its police discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities. Instead of changing their approach, the DOJ says Phoenix police escalate encounters with people with mental illnesses.

“What is so sad is that the report found that Phoenix's officers act on the assumption that people with disabilities are dangerous,” said Larry Wulkan, an attorney with experience representing Phoenix and people who sue the city.

Wulkan said most people with behavioral health disabilities who police encounter are in a state of psychosis.

“Mentally ill individuals often have excessive force used against them simply because they can't comply with the officer's commands,” said Wulkan.

The DOJ also found that the Phoenix 911 call center routinely fails to identify when callers need help with behavioral health issues, so police get sent by default.

Three years ago, the city put $15 million into an effort that had been volunteer-based for decades.

The buildout continues, but now behavioral health and crisis response units are sent alone on calls with no crime, fire or medical need reported.

“Part of it is just changing the culture of, you know, they want our team members to be safe,” said D.C. Ernst, administrator of the Community Assistance Program, which is housed in the Phoenix Fire Department.

Ernst’s team has worked with 911 dispatch to develop a set of new questions for callers that determine if it's appropriate to send her behavioral health and/or crisis response teams, instead of police officers and firefighters.

Ernst said Community Assistance Program units have been much busier this year compared to last.

“Our vision is to eliminate PD from having to go out on calls when they’re not the subject matter experts,” said Ernst.

Less work for officers working for a chronically understaffed Police Department would be welcome.

“In no way shape or form should law enforcement be responsible to take care of societal issues,” said Paul Sheldon, president of the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, a labor union with members that carry a Phoenix badge.

Sheldon said there has been a decades-long trend of societal issues getting thrown at the feet of police.

“I've watched the amount of responsibilities for a police officer go from law enforcement, to everything,” said Sheldon.

Likewise, Jane Jepson views police being sent to deal with people with mental illnesses as a symptom of a larger societal failure.

She said the Phoenix officer who pointed a gun at her was absolutely doing the right thing. To Jepson, it’s more proof that moms and police get left to pick up the pieces.

“It's a dangerous situation for the police, it's a dangerous situation for the family members, and it's a dangerous situation for the loved one that's suffering from illness,” said Jepson.

Jepson frequently uses the word lucky to describe her son’s experiences with Phoenix police.

Once the chaos after the car accident was sorted out, officers evaluated her son and concluded that he would do badly in jail.

They released him to Jepson’s care, and she advocated for him to go into a diversion court where his charges were consolidated.

The police who have come after Jepson calls 911 knew how to do crisis intervention.

“The newer officers are in fact very well trained. And there’s been tremendous changes. I’ve seen it from 2017 to 2023," Jepson said.

Jepson is spending less time locked in her room these days.

With the right medication, her son has recovered to the point where he lives somewhat independently in an apartment that Jepson has delayed her own retirement to provide him.