Could de-escalation have prevented Frank Tyson's death?

As of this writing, the cause of Frank Tyson's death, which occurred during his arrest by Canton police on April 18, has not yet been released by the Stark County Coroner's Office.

However, we know this much is true: Whatever the reason, it was exacerbated by the shoddy manner in which that arrest was processed.

The fatal incident highlights — yet again — a glaring need for police departments to embrace and emphasize de-escalation.

Following an 18-month research project, the Niskanen Center, a Washington-based think tank, concluded in 2020 that: "Overall, de-escalation was associated with a 28% reduction in uses-of-force, a 26% reduction in citizen injuries, and a 36% reduction in officer injuries. These results were not sensitive to changes in arrest patterns or other things that varied with time. "

Now, we all know that policing is a stressful, dangerous and an increasingly thankless job. By its very nature, it's dealing mostly with people who are in the throes of being "mad, sad or bad." Go on a police ride-a-long and you'll learn that a good portion of the people with whom they deal are under the influence or have mental health issues, and that many incidents involve what newsrooms refer to as "frequent flyers." In other words, 5% of the public is generating 95% of the calls.

Better training = better results: Better policing makes everyone safer

In an era where every police encounter gone wrong is captured by someone's phone, it has resulted in more animosity toward law enforcement, so that the sight of an officer triggers more fear than relief. But some of that distrust is self-inflicted. When departments and unions circle the wagons around their bad actors, it endangers those who are not.

It's all the more reason why de-escalation policies must become more of a priority. In her recent report on police cadets, the Canton Repository's Kelli Weir writes that Ohio requires a minimum of 740 hours of training for potential officers. Some states require even less.

Based on an eight-hour day, that's the equivalent of 92.5 days. How can this possibly be enough?

The Institute for Criminal Justice Training Reform reports that many American police departments require fewer training hours than are needed to be plumber, a cosmetologist or a nurse. The institute also found that the U.S. ranks at the bottom of 100 nations examined, with Portugal heading the list by requiring a minimum of 9,000 hours of training.

Shortly before his arrest last month, Tyson was involved in a one-car crash into a utility pole on Sherrick Road SE, from which he fled to the AMVETS Post 124, just east of the collision.

Anytime someone collides with a utility pole — which always wins — he could likely be in shock or suffering from an injury not readily seen.

The officers dispatched to the bar failed to exercise simple discretion which should have begun with the basic courtesy of two questions: "Sir, are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance?"

Employing courtesy, even when the person doesn't reciprocate — especially if they don't reciprocate — can turn down the temperature. Based on the video, de-escalation appears to have been given short shrift.

A chance for reinvention: Verdict gives America an opening to do better

Failure to de-escalate can quickly devolve into unprofessional conduct, as heard in the obscene response to Tyson's saying he couldn't breathe.

Again, we all know policing is nothing like the sheriff's office in Mayberry. Most of us wouldn't make it past the probationary period. Police often must deal with belligerent people, many of whom suffer from mental health issues, which is why some departments around the country have adopted the practice of sending mental health professionals with officers on calls.

Forbes Health reports that 23% of American adults suffered from a mental health condition in 2022, and that nearly 33% of us experienced both a mental health condition and substance abuse.

Police have no expertise in mental health or disabilities, nor should they be required to be experts. We've all seen cases when mentally ill people have died during arrests, or people suffering from a seizure or a hearing impairment getting shocked by a Taser or even shot because it was thought they were resisting arrest.

But very few people could tell a member of the public to "Shut the (expletive) up" on their job and get to keep it, especially when that person already told you he couldn't breathe.

Instead, Tyson's distress appears to have been cynically dismissed as a ploy. To compound the problem, the officers left a handcuffed Tyson on his face for nearly eight minutes while they stood around and talked.

About what?

You don't have to be doctor to know that if a person who had been shouting and struggling suddenly goes quiet, perhaps there's a problem.

There is a stubborn and convenient myth that minorities are anti-police. No, they just want competent professionals they don't have to fear. They want officers who don't view the people they serve as less-than, and the cities they patrol as "enemy" territory.

They want officers who see themselves as guardians, not warriors. People who don't view de-escalation as coddling or a waste of time, but rather as a means by which a routine arrest doesn't end in tragedy.

Charita M. Goshay is a Canton Repository staff writer and member of the editorial board. Reach her at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Could de-escalation have prevented Frank Tyson's death?