Man in Wheelchair Shot By Cops Now Faces Assault Charges
Categories: Law & Order
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| Assault Charges |
On Jan. 4, at about 10:20 a.m., police received calls about reports of a man in a wheelchair who had been yelling and stabbing the tires of city vehicles on 10th and Howard Streets. When police arrived they found Randal Dunklin with a buck knife and a large piece of cement.
Police ordered the man, who was described as "highly agitated" to put down the knife.
Officers then fired at Dunklin, who was treated with non life-threatening injuries. The officer was also treated and released.
After the incident, former police chief George Gascon, who was appointed District Attorney on Sunday, said this is exactly why police should be armed with Tasers. He introduced a proposal, which will be heard at the Police Commission next month.
But Angela Chan, member of the police commission, told SF Weekly that last fall the commission voted on its priorities this year -- and Tasers was not even on the list. In fact, she said the commission had made it a priority to make sure police officers are better trained in dealing with mentally ill people.
Chan said right now officers receive minimal training -- up to eight hours -- on how to handle mentally ill people. That's not enough, she says, adding that she is disappointed that one of the first items of the year the commission is taking up is Tasers.
Police are currently at a conference in Memphis, Tenn. learning about methods other department's use to train officers in dealing with mentally ill people, Chan said.
"I'm really going to push for this," Chan said.
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