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Comment by hash872 | Hacker News Reader

I start from a place of wanting this program to be successful, but I have to ask- what do they do if the subject becomes violent or dangerous? The disturbed person suddenly pulls a knife, or attacks the respondents? It seems unrealistic to not have someone armed & prepared for violence, even if they're just armed with pepper spray

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They call the police.

It can take a long time for the police to show up, and a very short time to be stabbed. Arming STAR members is probably a step in the wrong direction, but I agree that they need to be able to handle these situations on their own.

This program deals specifically with nonviolent people, they presumably have some sense of what they're getting into and understand that violence, while not impossible, is very unlikely.

I agree. There are many comments here saying, "what if they turn violent?" as though that is a deal breaker for this kind of program. I think EMTs are a good model for this. If the situation escalates then the health professionals can disengage and call the police.

It isn't a risk free profession just like firefighting, policing and logging aren't risk free professions. But the risk of violence does not mean we should do away with the program if it proves to be successful.

EMTs have a helmet and ballistic vest in the ambulance in quite a few cases, though I'm not sure having the closest "health care professional" looking like a 90s ATF agent would help with the public perception.

How is it different than any situation when somebody turns violent and the police aren't already there? At least in this scenario there are people there who are presumably the most equipped to de-escalate the situation without further violence.

Maybe that is less common than we expect?

I’ve wondered this as well, though I suppose many countries use a police force armed with just batons (but combat training I’d assume).

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