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Editorial: Bills may help mentally ill before they commit more deaths

Wed., Jan. 28, 2015

Legislation sponsored by Spokane legislators will not restore life to Sheena Henderson, nor cure the mental illness of husband Christopher. But the bills may get another Christopher help before he becomes violent, and give another Sheena a warning that authorities had returned a firearm to her unstable spouse.

Absent both those measures, on July 8, Christopher killed Sheena, then himself, orphaning two children he adored, and traumatizing the co-workers who witnessed her death.

HB 1448, with Spokane Reps. Marcus Riccelli, Jeff Holy, Kevin Parker and Timm Ormsby as co-sponsors, would allow law enforcement officers to recommend mental health professionals do a follow-up interview of an individual who threatens or attempts suicide, but does not meet the threshold for immediate detainment.

Officers would have to notify a mental health agency within 12 hours, and the agency would have another 12 hours to attempt to make contact with the individual. Involuntary commitment might follow.

SB 5381, with Sen. Andy Billig, of Spokane, as primary sponsor, would require authorities to notify a family member when authorities are about to return a firearm taken into custody when, for example, the owner has threatened suicide. Spokane police officers confiscated Christopher Henderson’s pistol after a May 16 confrontation initiated by a threat of “suicide by cop.”

He was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center but released three hours later. The Washington Department of Social and Health Services signed off on the return of Henderson’s weapon in May. He retrieved it July 7 – three hours after convincing Spokane Valley police officers he was not suicidal.

Christopher Henderson’s subsequent violence is by no means the fault of officers. Despite improved training, they cannot be expected to have the expertise of professionals with years of education. But when people threaten to harm themselves, potentially at the hands of law enforcement, there should be an interim step between detention and outright release. An interview with a mental health worker might have saved both Hendersons and, in other circumstances, possibly a cop or deputy.

SB 5381 does not allow authorities to withhold a weapon in their custody from its legitimate owner. It allows a family or household member to request notification when the owner asks for the return of a confiscated or surrendered weapon, with a 72-hour delay between the application and its release.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub support both bills, as does their professional organization. They know the challenge dealing with the mentally ill poses to their officers.

Although the word “firearm” always alarms gun interests, SB 5381 does not allow the withholding of weapons unless the owner is ineligible to have one. The notification period matches the waiting period for buying a weapon.

If addressing mental health issues is the preferred alternative to more restrictions on guns, this is an opportunity to work on legislation that corresponds with that goal. Sheena Henderson deserves that much.