5th: Kansas City, Kan., Police Shot Jesse West in Latest Officer-Involved Incident
A family member called 911 to report erratic behavior, and officers said they saw a firearm, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Jesse West, 36, lay on the ground in Kansas City, Kansas, after a police officer shot him on Nov. 6. It was the fifth time an officer in that city used a firearm on a person this year. The incident has sparked local debate over how law enforcement handles people in mental health emergencies.
According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, a family member contacted 911 because West was acting strangely. Officers stated they saw West holding a firearm. Investigators later found rifle parts near the scene. Residents are now asking what those specific parts were, whether West was holding a gun at the exact moment he was shot, and what happened after he left his vehicle. A KBI spokesperson confirmed West was outside his car when the officer fired. The KSHB 41 reporter assigned to Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties has requested the 911 audio and body camera footage.
William Rogers, a family advocate, discussed the shooting on Tuesday. His involvement highlights the community's focus on the details of the encounter.
Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department officers receive crisis intervention training, known as CIT. Dr. Amy Watson, a professor of social work at Wayne State University and president of Crisis Response Programs and Training, studies this practice. Before her doctorate, she worked as a probation officer on a team serving clients with mental illnesses. She recently completed a seven-site study on CIT training.
Watson noted that people involved in these encounters often report feeling vulnerable. "They may be going through a crisis where they're already kind of feeling heightened and vulnerable and then bringing police in often makes them feel like they're going to get killed," she said. She added that officers frequently feel these interactions are dangerous and that they are not always prepared.
Watson described the situation as a difficult balance. "You have basically two parties that are feeling at risk, which is not a great recipe for things staying calm," she said. The department uses mental health co-responders from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Watson suggested expanding coverage could begin with more training, but she cautioned that training does not ensure the right outcome. She noted that there are not enough master's-level clinicians to cover every shift 24 hours a day.
The reporter will continue to follow up on the case. Readers can send tips to the Wyandotte County desk.
