Officers drop homeless on others’ doorstep

Re “Dumping of Homeless Suspected Downtown,” Sept. 23

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said his deputies took the bipolar man to skid row for his own safety. Only later, Baca’s spokesman said, deputies took the man to a psychiatric hospital. Why wasn’t the man taken directly to the hospital or released directly into a community treatment program?

After the passage of AB 1421, the county Department of Mental Health started an assisted outpatient treatment program, linking newly released inmates to intensive community treatment programs in places other than skid row.

With the passage of Proposition 63, there is money available for mental health services. Either that money must expand this program or better coordination must occur between the Department of Mental Health and the sheriff’s department.

CARLA JACOBS

Board Member

Treatment Advocacy Center

Tustin

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Los Angeles Police Capt. Andrew Smith stated that he witnessed sheriff’s deputies dump off a homeless man in downtown’s skid row. I’ve been in law enforcement for 15 years and have witnessed several law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD, drop off their unwanted problems in other jurisdictions. If Smith wants to complain, maybe he should start with his own department.

STEVE FINNEY

Covina