It’s not how officers typically resolve a situation, but sometimes a little creativity — and ice cream — can get the job done.
On Tuesday, a 52-year-old man became verbally and physically aggressive with his caretaker, who is also his mother, according to a press release by the Juneau Police Department.
Officers were dispatched to the scene at 12:46 p.m. The patrol officers determined the underlying cause was a mental health issue.
At the scene, Sgt. Chris Gifford and officers John Cryderman and Patrick Taylor were able to engage the man in conversation, controlling his movements while calling for Detective Sterling Salisbury, a Critical Incident Team officer.
Salisbury worked with Gifford to negotiate with the man to exchange a 6-pound Pomeranian he was holding for ice cream bars Salisbury purchased at a nearby store. The man also agreed to assisted transportation to Bartlett Regional Hospital, according to police.
Lt. Kris Sell said in a statement that the department regularly uses creative means to solve problems in the field to avoid the use of force. There is a more formal structure and training for this type of problem solving, but officers are encouraged to use creative tools when it is safe to do so.
