After a woman was shot and killed by two Orlando Police Department officers in 2023, an Orange County grand jury says there are ways the agency can enhance its response tactics. In July of last year, OPD officers were called to an apartment building on Pioneers Way in response to a reportedly intoxicated woman, 32-year-old Rachael Ellis, threatening to harm herself and others, including law enforcement officers.According to officials, the woman charged at the officers with two knives, which is when they fatally shot her.RELATED: Video shows moments before Orlando officers shot, killed knife-wielding womanWhile the grand jury decided the officers acted lawfully in using deadly force and will not file any charges against the two, it also requested further testimony about OPD's Community Response Team.The CRT uses mental health clinicians working as contractors with the city of Orlando to respond to residents experiencing mental or behavioral episodes. According to the grand jury, there are a few enhancements involving the CRT it believes OPD should implement, which were released Tuesday.The first is a co-response model, a system where CRT members work alongside officers. The grand jury says this could help manage dangerous situations and provide essential mental health support.Additionally, the grand jury says the current CRT setup, which involves contracted clinicians and limited hours, is not enough to meet the city's needs. According to the grand jury, additional financial resources could expand the team or make them city employees, therefore combatting this shortage.Finally, the grand jury says OPD should consider responding in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles, something that could reduce the potential for escalating crises.WESH 2 talked to licensed mental health therapist Cherlette McCullough about the recommendations."Mental health, it looks so different now. When you talk about the history of mental health, you could identify it, but now it is more hidden, and more people are suffering in silence, and people know how to hide it. With these changes, I do think that they would help a lot when it comes to responding to calls," she said.McCullough said in addition to the recommendations, she thinks law enforcement officers should receive annual trainings."I think the ongoing training keeps this level of observation to the consciousness where they are aware of it, not hyper vigilant, but it's there. If we were to have an ongoing training for them, I think that would help, as well as the co-response unit," she said."The grand jury commended OPD for researching and developing the CRT to address mental health crises law enforcement officers encounter every day and said it only hopes to keep officers and the community safer with these recommendations," the state attorney's office said in its release. In a statement from OPD, officials say their CRT remains a pilot program that is still being evaluated and evolved. According to officials, changes were made to this program before the grand jury brought back their recommendations. "These changes include hiring a Mental Health Intervention Program Manager to oversee the CRT, adding a clinician to triage calls in our communications center, and the creation of two in-house positions for CRT clinicians," OPD said in a statement. "These positions are in addition to the four clinician positions created earlier this year. These clinicians will also be assisted by a data analyst assigned to the unit."According to OPD, these resources allow them to implement a hybrid response model, where clinicians can respond to high-risk cases with an officer while continuing to respond to low-risk cases without law enforcement presence."Chief Eric Smith and the Orlando Police Department thank the Grand Jury for their service to our community," OPD said. There are free mental health resources throughout Central Florida from NAMI Greater Orlando, 26Health and the Mental Health Association of Central Florida.The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988, is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a crisis.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
After a woman was shot and killed by two Orlando Police Department officers in 2023, an Orange County grand jury says there are ways the agency can enhance its response tactics.
In July of last year, OPD officers were called to an apartment building on Pioneers Way in response to a reportedly intoxicated woman, 32-year-old Rachael Ellis, threatening to harm herself and others, including law enforcement officers.
Advertisement
According to officials, the woman charged at the officers with two knives, which is when they fatally shot her.
RELATED: Video shows moments before Orlando officers shot, killed knife-wielding woman
While the grand jury decided the officers acted lawfully in using deadly force and will not file any charges against the two, it also requested further testimony about OPD's Community Response Team.
The CRT uses mental health clinicians working as contractors with the city of Orlando to respond to residents experiencing mental or behavioral episodes. According to the grand jury, there are a few enhancements involving the CRT it believes OPD should implement, which were released Tuesday.
The first is a co-response model, a system where CRT members work alongside officers. The grand jury says this could help manage dangerous situations and provide essential mental health support.
Additionally, the grand jury says the current CRT setup, which involves contracted clinicians and limited hours, is not enough to meet the city's needs. According to the grand jury, additional financial resources could expand the team or make them city employees, therefore combatting this shortage.
Finally, the grand jury says OPD should consider responding in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles, something that could reduce the potential for escalating crises.
WESH 2 talked to licensed mental health therapist Cherlette McCullough about the recommendations.
"Mental health, it looks so different now. When you talk about the history of mental health, you could identify it, but now it is more hidden, and more people are suffering in silence, and people know how to hide it. With these changes, I do think that they would help a lot when it comes to responding to calls," she said.
McCullough said in addition to the recommendations, she thinks law enforcement officers should receive annual trainings.
"I think the ongoing training keeps this level of observation to the consciousness where they are aware of it, not hyper vigilant, but it's there. If we were to have an ongoing training for them, I think that would help, as well as the co-response unit," she said.
"The grand jury commended OPD for researching and developing the CRT to address mental health crises law enforcement officers encounter every day and said it only hopes to keep officers and the community safer with these recommendations," the state attorney's office said in its release.
In a statement from OPD, officials say their CRT remains a pilot program that is still being evaluated and evolved. According to officials, changes were made to this program before the grand jury brought back their recommendations.
"These changes include hiring a Mental Health Intervention Program Manager to oversee the CRT, adding a clinician to triage calls in our communications center, and the creation of two in-house positions for CRT clinicians," OPD said in a statement. "These positions are in addition to the four clinician positions created earlier this year. These clinicians will also be assisted by a data analyst assigned to the unit."
According to OPD, these resources allow them to implement a hybrid response model, where clinicians can respond to high-risk cases with an officer while continuing to respond to low-risk cases without law enforcement presence.
"Chief Eric Smith and the Orlando Police Department thank the Grand Jury for their service to our community," OPD said.
There are free mental health resources throughout Central Florida from NAMI Greater Orlando, 26Health and the Mental Health Association of Central Florida.
The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988, is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a crisis.
