My son was depressed would not take the meds long enough for them to kick in . Didn't like drugs. One night he talked about suicide He was big and tall we didnt know what to do he ran out of the house and my other son and girlfriend folowed him. I called the police because I knew he was so big and strong he could not be controlled by one or two people if he decided to run away again. The police arrived with two squad cars . The commanding officer happened to be the chief's son well known for his faults and bad attitude I told him my son was depressed and suicidal and had now agreed to hospitalization would they help us. . all the officers and my family heard quite clearly what we as his parents told them. The officer kept telling me to shut up or he would hospitalize me if I didn't. He wouldnt listen to us.. They put him in the back of the cruiser.My son was visibly upset by this but we told him they would do the right thing. I dressed and went to the station to fill out any reports and thought he was already hospitalized But found out they had jailed him instead and was told quite bluntly this was now their job not mine.. We asked to see him and sit with him to calm him we were refused. They had videos and all of a sudden they pushed us out into the foyer he had tried to hang himself. They left him in that cell alone after that and he then succesfully hung himself They sat him up in a corner of the cell and said he wouldn't die and left him choking. When he began to turn blue they ran for ambu bags and couldnt find them. They called the ambulance co who could not contact their people (they were found with all thier radios off drinking coffee in the local donut shop) by the time another ambulance arrived it was 30 minutes longer.He was rushed to the hospital (only 5 minutes away)and pronounced dead.If only the original officer had listened to us and brought him to the hospital and the ER he would be alive today. If only the ambulance co people had been at their posts he would be alive today. I implemented a suicide prevention program now followed by the towns policemen
After four years of litigaition two of the officers involved came forth and verified my words"Please watch and care for my son he is suicidal." and they then told what happened from the first contact with us to the end.Everyone had denied our words for 4 long years they had said they werent told any thing at all about him.. It was these officers final testimoney that brought forth the truth.I fought for him and others like him this shouldn't happen to any family.What a horrible four years for us but we changed the system maybe not much but hopefully enough for the next person to come along to save his life. Maybe that is how the world gets better if we all try with all our might when it is our turn to stand up and fight and be counted. Auntie