There ARE Crazy Cops

There is a scandal going on in Lansing Michigan right now. An Eaton County Deputy Sherriff named Jeff Lutz, for some reason, shot himself and then filed a report claiming that it was done by a black man, leading to a manhunt for a non-existant perpetrator. It has led to the usual claims of racism, and in this instance the claims may well be appropriate. The Eaton County Sherriff's Department is handling this in a logical and professional manner, including an internal and external investigation, but some are going to keep making it bigger and bigger.

There is reasonable evidence that Mr. Lutz has a serious mental problem at the moment and that could explain, but not excuse, this behavior. His attorney his suggesting that he has been in "mental tailspin" since last year when he accidentally shot a hostage during a robbery/hostage situation last year. If this is indeed the case then he should have been taken off regular patrol duty until his mind was fit again.

All I can really say for myself is that the police and sheriff's departments need to monitor their officers closely for signs of emotional strain. When someone carries a gun every day, and a police officer on duty must, the last thing you want is a nervous breakdown. You want the most stable minds available for this job. His career is over and trust between the people and the sheriff's dept is badly strained because an emotionally troubled man was entrusted with duties that he was not able to emotionally handle. I do find it difficult to believe that no one noticed that the man was under a lot of strain.

If I accidentally shot a woman I was trying to save I would probably need some help too.