Politics & Government

County Dems Call for Investigation of New Rochelle Shooting

Police said the New Rochelle man had stopped taking his medication prior to the shooting.

Members of the Democratic caucus of the Westchester County Board of Legislators said they intend to ask for an investigation into the shooting Sunday of an emotionally disturbed New Rochelle man.

A press release stated that the legislators are concerned that the county's residents with mental illness are not getting the care they need since four county mental health clinics were closed two years ago.

New Rochelle police officials said Samuel Cruz, 48, was not taking his medication and became irrational when police were summoned to his Hickory Street apartment. Police said he had a hooked bladed knife with which he threatened the officers.

Two attempts to use a stun gun on Cruz did not immoblize him, and when he lunged with the knife at the officers, one policeman shot him once in the chest.
The legislators want the county's Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Grant Mitchell to investigate the death.

Legislator Alfreda Wiliams, D-Greenburgh, said it was important to find out if Cruz was receiving proper care.

"If he was only of the county's former clients and slipped through the cracks during the transition after the clinics closed, then we should learn why," she said.
The clinics in Mount Kisco, Peekskill, Yonkers and Mount Vernon were closed in 2011 by County Executive Robert Astorino to save money. There were an estimated 24,000 visits to the four clinics in 2010. 

Democratic caucus members also want to know what the status is of the county's Police Mental Health Program, where teams of police officers and a mental health professional respond to situations to prevent the escalation of violence. The program is currently being run with mobile response available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chairman Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, said the county needs to make sure that programs like the Police Mental Health Program are fully funded so they will be ready to respond to problems.

"Dr. Mitchell needs to update the board on how this program is now being implemented and start a departmental investigation of whether Mr. Cruz's death was avoidable from the county's perspective," he said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here