They called 911 to help their mentally ill son. Counties in Minnesota did not send emergency responders.
When Brent Alsleben stopped responding to his mother’s calls and texts in the fall of 2022, his mother called 911.
She feared that her eldest son, who suffers from mental illness, had harmed himself. He lived alone in an apartment in New Auburn, a small town about 105 miles west of the Twin Cities.
Tara Sykes told Sibley County dispatchers that the 34-year-old man suffers from bipolar schizoaffective disorder. He has a history of burn injuries and has been hospitalized twice. A few days ago, he neglected to see a doctor.
“I feel like I couldn’t have done more,” she said. “I told them everything.”
Sykes and other family members called 911 eight times between September and December, according to dispatch reports obtained by five investigators and corroborated by multiple interviews.
Sibley County sent sheriff’s deputies to check on Alsleben each time, but advised the family there was little they could do to help.
Ms. Sykes later learned that was not true.
A year ago, the Minnesota Legislature passed Travis’ Law, requiring 911 dispatchers to “include referrals to mental health crisis teams when possible.”
However, a review of incident reports and 911 calls revealed that the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office never sent mental health responders or requested assistance to help Alsleben. Became.
The sheriff declined to be interviewed on camera to explain why, but said in a statement that “responding to mental health calls has always been and will continue to be a priority for this department.”
But Sibley County is one of nine counties that did not refer a single case to emergency responders in the 18 months since Travis’ Act was passed, according to state data reviewed by five research agencies. One of them.
Mental health advocates say data shows the law is inconsistently enforced across the state, often with dire consequences for people in crisis.
Deb LaCroix Kinniley works with a group that provides training on Travis’ Law.
“There needs to be some accountability,” she said in an interview. “It’s the law.”
No introduction
Travis’ Law, named after a Minneapolis man shot and killed by police during a mental health crisis, was hailed by lawmakers as a major step forward in the fight for alternative responses to mental health complaints.
All counties have access to mobile mental health crisis teams through a state-sponsored program. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) collects information from these teams annually to learn where referrals for services come from.
The 2021 and 2022 data from the five agencies does not list law enforcement referrals in nine counties.
Data source: Minnesota Department of Human Services
Some counties argue that the data does not show the steps they have taken to enforce the law. In Cook County, for example, the sheriff’s office created its own crisis response team through the county’s public health department.
Other counties blame a lack of resources. Isanti County Sheriff Wayne Seiberlich said the county’s contracted mental health team did not have the staff to respond to law enforcement inquiries in 2021 and 2022.
Lake County Sheriff Nathan Stadler, who took office in 2023, told five investigators that he did not know this was the law.
“As far as I know, we don’t have a policy in place for dispatchers yet, but since you brought this to our attention, we’re going to have a policy,” he said by phone earlier this month. .
Nothing is overlooked
LaCroix-Kinnily, the mental health advocate, said part of the problem is that no one is overseeing enforcement of the law at the state level.
“Frankly, we need someone to help us monitor this and be a resource to help us implement it,” she said.
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), 911 command centers are operated by county sheriff’s offices independent of the state. A spokesperson confirmed that DPS does not provide guidance regarding Travis’ Law.
“If they’re not doing it, there needs to be some accountability,” LaCroix-Kiniry said. “If you or I disobey the law, there are consequences.”
Sibley County Sheriff Patrick Nienaber declined multiple interview requests over a three-month period.
“We will continue to use our resources to balance community safety with potential threats to our members and train and equip our staff to respond appropriately,” he said in a statement.
Five investigators sent specific questions about his office’s policy regarding dispatching crisis responders to mental health calls. When he didn’t answer questions, reporter Kirsten Swanson approached him outside a county board meeting in January.
“I have made a statement, Mr. Swanson, and that is what I intend to stand by,” Sheriff Nienaber said before heading to his office.
fatal consequences
As time passed, Alsleben’s family became increasingly frustrated with the law enforcement response and worried about their son’s health.
In November, Alsleben’s stepfather called 911. The family finally spoke to their son on the phone. They knew he needed tests and medication.
“He’s beyond delusional at this point,” Jay Sykes told dispatchers. “Now he’s at the point where if he doesn’t go to the hospital he’s going to die.”
However, Alsleben was not taken to the hospital. In December 2022, the 34-year-old was shot and killed by law enforcement in his apartment after an hours-long standoff. Investigators say Alsleben stabbed the officer with a knife during the struggle.
The family believes Sibley County’s failure to comply with the law in the months leading up to the shooting had deadly consequences.
“I needed someone to help me in the professional realm,” Jay Sykes said. “I believe that if they had sent a mental health professional, someone trained to deal with disabled and mentally ill people, Brent could have been sitting here talking to us. .”
Jay Sykes said telling the story of what happened to Alsleben is a way to raise awareness about Travis’ Law. The family also Encourage legislators to consider the bill This would strengthen alternative responses to mental health consultations.
