A powerful call for change echoed during the recent Council Joint Committee Hearing on Alternative Crisis Response Programming in Columbus. Advocates, including co-chair of the Columbus Safety Collective, shared heart-wrenching personal stories to highlight the urgent need for reform in how mental health crises are handled by law enforcement.

One poignant testimony came from a community leader who recounted the tragic death of his brother, Jeron Thomas, at the hands of Columbus police. Thomas, who was experiencing a mental health crisis, required assistance to reach a hospital for evaluation, not the excessive force that ultimately led to his death. The speaker emphasized that his brother was unarmed and non-combative, yet police intervention escalated the situation fatally.

"This was considered a co-responder model, which failed to meet the needs of my brother who suffered from schizophrenia," the advocate stated. He argued that if Columbus had a non-police emergency response system in place, his brother might still be alive today.

The testimony underscored the critical need for alternative crisis response programming that prioritizes mental health support over law enforcement intervention. As discussions continue, the community is left to ponder the implications of these tragic events and the potential for a safer, more just approach to crisis management in Columbus.