Family sues city, CPD for lack of mental health crisis training

CHICAGO (FOX 32 NEWS) - More than 2,000 officers are now trained to better handle situations that involve people with mental health problems, according to Chicago Police.

Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at least 30 officers in every police district are now trained in crisis intervention.

Some of the officers, got that training on Monday, but the family of a woman who died at the hand of police said -- too little too late.

"Today we saw some newspaper article about how officers are receiving training but it's quite frankly it's too late for Bettie Jones and these officers should have been receiving training all along," Jones' family attorney, Larry Rogers, Jr., said.

On Dec. 26, Chicago police, including officer Robert Rialmo, responded to a call in West Garfield Park for a domestic disturbance.

There they found 19-year-old Quintonio Legrier and 55-year-old Bettie Jones who was opening the door for the officers.

Rialmo opened fire striking and killing Legrier. Police said Jones was accidentally killed.

Before police arrived, Legrier called 911 three times asking for help, saying his life was being threatened.

Police weren't sent to the home on West Erie Street until the teenager's father called for help. Legrier's family has since talked about the teenager's mental health issues.

Now the family of Bettie Jones, the innocent bystander, is blaming the city of Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the officer for being inadequately trained in a lawsuit. 

They also cite the lack of mental health clinics and blame the mayor for shutting them down.
Surprisingly enough, officer Rialmo agrees with the victims' family, saying he was not adequately trained.

"When you have both sides come out to the same conclusion that tells you a lot people who are usually adversaries now when they have time to sit down and consider what happened both blame the city and the mayor there's got to be some truth to it," Joel Brodsky, Rialmo's attorney said.

FOX 32 reached out to the mayor's office for comment, since both of the attorneys for the victim and the officer are essentially blaming him and his actions for the incident.

"Over the last four years, Chicago Department of Public Health has made or helped secured millions of dollars in new investments to increase services and options for Chicago residents and the mayor is dedicated to increase training for police officers," a statement from the mayor's office read.