When city or UW-Madison police identify people with mental health problems, officers work to connect them with needed services in the hope of preventing incidents like Saturday?s shooting rampage that killed six people and injured 14, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in Tucson, Ariz.
….UW-Madison Lt. Pete Ystenes said dealing with people who have mental health issues and whom police believe could become a danger to others is challenging. For students, the university has resources available to provide assistance. But when it comes to non-students, unless a person has committed a crime or is clearly a danger to themselves or others, there is little police can do if someone?s behavior is abnormal, Ystenes said.