The summer of 2020 ignited a fervent debate, fueled by tragedy and protest. A powerful idea took hold on one side: that the presence of armed officers often escalated volatile situations, particularly those involving mental health crises. The proposed solution was radical – replace police with trained social workers and clinicians, believing empathy could succeed where force might fail.
In Boston, a city embracing this evolving approach, a recent incident delivered a stark and brutal reality check. A mental health clinician, dispatched to a crisis call, found himself facing a man wielding a sword. The situation unfolded with terrifying speed inside an apartment building, just steps from a university campus.
For nearly forty-five minutes, the clinician attempted to connect with the man through a locked door, a testament to the program’s commitment to de-escalation. He was part of Boston’s BEST program, a carefully established co-responder model pairing master’s-level mental health professionals with police officers – a system already nine years old before the national conversation shifted.
The door finally opened, and the carefully constructed calm shattered. The man attacked, striking both the clinician and a police officer with a blade described as a “sword.” Officers responded with a Taser and then with their firearms. The man was transported to a hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
Boston’s BEST program isn’t a hastily conceived experiment. In 2023 alone, its twelve clinicians responded to over 4,200 encounters, working seven days a week. This incident wasn’t a failure of training or intent, but a chilling demonstration of the unpredictable dangers inherent in crisis response.
The incident has prompted a difficult reevaluation. Even within the Democratic party, whispers of regret regarding the “defund the police” movement are growing louder. The notion that simply removing a trained, armed presence could universally improve outcomes is facing increasing scrutiny.
The question now looms larger, particularly in cities grappling with more significant crime challenges. What happens when this approach is scaled up, or implemented in environments far more volatile than Boston? The events on Hemenway Street serve as a grim warning, a stark reminder that even the best intentions can collide with unforeseen and devastating consequences.
