A statement prepared by Mary Dougherty, on behalf of Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities (RIPPD) about the death of Iman Morales. Morales died as a result of a taser gun used by the New York City Police Department, Sept.

I write this today in solidarity with the family of Iman Morales, a 35-year-old man with mental illness who was tasered to death by police. As community members and activists, we are outraged by yet another instance of police brutality against a person with mental illness. This incident draws attention to the blatant misconduct often exercised by police when responding to mental health crisis calls and highlights the lack of understanding and compassion of the New York City Police Department. From our own experience, we know that police are not properly trained to work with people with psychiatric disabilities. This incident only heightens our awareness of this.

This statement is written in direct response to the deaths of countless people with mental illness, including, Eleanor Bumpurs - October 29, 1984, Kevin Cerbelli - October 25, 1998, Gideon Busch - August 30, 1999, Blondel Lassegue - January 6, 2007, Kheil Coppin - Nov 12, 2007 and most recently Iman Morales - September 24, 2008. These individuals died tragically and needlessly.

Commissioner Kelly noted that last year the NYPD, "handled 87,000 calls to aggressive emotionally disturbed people...Obviously, the vast majority of them went well. You didn't hear about them. But we're human beings. Sometimes we make mistakes". He went on to say that the Emergency Service Unit officers would be called in for refresher training, "The training is, in essence, going over the training they've received".

RIPPD was present at a public hearing a few months ago where a representative from the NYPD said that the number of EDP calls quoted "87,000" was not accurate because many times calls that aren't initially classified as EDP (in the 911 computer system) and are only identified at the scene as EDP never get reclassified. The records never change. Similarly those initially classified as EDP but later determined not to be are not reclassified either. There is no way of knowing if the 87,000 is a true representation of EDP calls.

Rather than explore real solutions such as Crisis Intervention Teams, the NYPD would rather promote the use of "Emergency Assistance Units" a front to try and calm our angry community.

The implementation of Crisis Intervention Teams would allow for real progress and would result in less deaths. Crisis Intervention Teams allow police officers, with specialized training, to better respond to mental health emergency calls. Most importantly they include independent oversight by community residents, mental health workers and people who have mental illness.

We are tired of people with mental illness being killed by the NYPD. And we are tired of these killings being justified as proper response to someone who is unfairly stigmatized as "crazed and dangerous". Thanks to video footage from a community member, we know the real truth.

We are publicly calling out Lieutenant Lyons of the 79th Precinct as well as Commissioner Kelly to set up meetings with us to discuss Crisis Intervention Teams. We demand that the New York Police Department take immediate action to implement Crisis Intervention Teams to prevent further unnecessary deaths.

RIPPD mourns the loss of Lieutenant Michael Pigott, whom on the heels of his command of the fatal EDP response call for Iman Morales, took his own life. As a group who struggles daily with the issues of mental illness, RIPPD members empathize with Lieutenant Pigott, his family and his "brothers in blue" who have become the latest victims of any administration defending a failed program and rejecting safe alternatives. We are sorry to have to add Lieutenant Pigott's name to the list of our dearly departed; and, in their names we will continue to call on the Mayor and the Commissioner for change.