Collin Burling, 45, was fatally struck Tuesday. Emergency services converged on the scene in Waterloo, Sydney, following a mental health call. His partner, Taite Collins, said that while his nature was “wonderful and beautiful,” he was fighting undiagnosed mental health issues. The entire incident has reopened a discussion on how police should respond to citizens experiencing mental health crises.
In fact, the day before this tragic event occurred, Burling had voiced fears about being poisoned by carbon monoxide in his apartment. Worried about Collins’s safety, Collins himself dispatched paramedics, who came to Collins’s aid with on-scene care. But things quickly took a turn for the worse when police were called to provide “emergency” backup.
Burling’s conversations with emergency responders were captured on Collins’ body camera, giving a view into the last few minutes of his life. In the days afterward, eyewitnesses described a chaotic and tragic scene. As police physically restrained Burling, he articulated his fear for his life and desperately pleaded for intervention from a higher authority.
Incident Overview
Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said that police were called after on scene personnel from the NSW Ambulance service were stunned. They were concerned about Burling’s mental state. It was in this intervention that police managed to bring him down. As seen in this video taken by Collins, moments later Burling was on the ground, with at least four officers surrounding him.
While happening, witnesses recalled listening to instructions for Burling to “stop resisting,” over Burling’s frantic cries for help.
“I’m not a threat, I’ve got no weapons, I’ve already been searched, I’m not under arrest for anything,” – Collin Burling
Even with officers working to place him under control, it soon was clear that Burling was in serious trouble. He wrote, articulating his fears for his life and requested that some person of authority talk to him.
In the midst of this increasingly fraught scene, paramedics decided to syringe Burling with a sedative. It isn’t clear that they would actually follow through. Not long after that, his voice disappeared from the tape. Paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to help him on the ground before loading him in an ambulance. He was subsequently transferred to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he unfortunately died.
Community Reactions
Since Burling’s death, tributes have appeared on the ground close to his unit block in Sydney’s inner city. Collins told investigators he felt profound shame and regret about what happened.
“I feel responsible, I couldn’t be there, I couldn’t save him,” – Taite Collins
Collins expressed sadness at how Burling was treated when he was arrested, adding that,
“He was begging for his life, he had done nothing wrong … you can’t do that to a human being.”
Community members have increasingly raised their fears about police handling of mental health emergencies. Feelings of vulnerability expressed after the incident by one resident.
“I feel not as safe as I thought I could be,” – Melinda
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is looking into the incident. Police Minister Yasmin Catley made a commitment to an independent inquiry from the start.
“If the police are meant to protect us and are doing stuff like this to people with mental health … it doesn’t feel right,” – Melinda
Official Responses
In response to these incidents, NSW Premier Chris Minns promised to train police officers on better handling these calls. He stood up for justifying these officers, saying they work in tough conditions and they’re not overly militarized in their response.
We’ve had a lot of advocates pushing for mental health reform. They are alarmed that authorities need to draw systemic and structural lessons to be equipped to deal with psychological distress. Rose Jackson, an Australian member of the NSW parliament, remarked about the need to reconsider response procedures.
“They say I’ve got mental health, what have I done?” – Collin Burling
Jackson focused on the need to view mental health crisis as a public health issue, not a criminal justice issue.
“I’m not comfortable with the way we currently respond to instances of psychological distress in these circumstances and I don’t think the police are either,” – Rose Jackson
Jackson emphasized the importance of treating mental health situations as health needs rather than criminal matters.
“We can consider how best to respond to psychological distress in a way that recognises that it’s a health need, not necessarily a sort of law and order or criminal,” – Rose Jackson
