The tragic shooting of Deborah Terrell, a 68-year-old woman in a mental health crisis, has sparked outrage in New Brunswick. Advocates and family members are questioning the lack of mental health resources during the incident.
Tormel Pittman, Terrell’s nephew, expressed frustration over the police’s response. “They should have recognized their limits,” he said. “Instead of calling for professional help, they resorted to police tactics.” This sentiment is echoed by many in the community who believe Terrell’s life could have been saved with proper mental health support at the scene.
Following Terrell’s death, many are advocating for community-based emergency programs. These programs would ideally have mental health professionals respond alongside police during crises. Recent initiatives, like the Arrive Together program, pair mental health clinicians with police in New Jersey. Launched in late 2021, the program operates statewide and aims to reduce police force during mental health calls. A 2023 study showed a decline in police force usage thanks to this approach. Yet, many argue that more robust support is needed to ensure tragedies like Terrell’s do not happen again.
On August 8, 2025, police responded to calls about Terrell behaving erratically and threatening neighbors with a knife. This was the second emergency call that day regarding her behavior, prompting police to ask for emergency medical services to standby. Video footage shows officers knocking on her door multiple times, and when Terrell finally opened it, she was holding a knife. After a series of failed attempts to engage with her, the encounter escalated, resulting in her being shot by police. She later died at the hospital.
Many community members, like Beverly A. Marshall, argue that police actions only increased Terrell’s distress. “They should have called for mental health assistance immediately instead of hammering on her door,” she stated. Her sentiment highlights a growing concern about how police handle mental health crises. Especially when compared to previous incidents, the community is left feeling dissatisfied with the outcomes.
In recent years, several tragic encounters between police and individuals experiencing mental health crises have made headlines across New Jersey. Recent cases, such as the shooting of Victoria G. Lee and Andrew Washington, underscore a troubling pattern where police fail to de-escalate situations effectively. The lack of accountability after these incidents leaves many advocates demanding change.
In response to public outcry, the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act was passed, aiming to enhance funding for nonviolent crisis responses. However, advocates argue that implementation has been slow, and funding has yet to be allocated to the organizations that could make a difference on the ground.
Discussions around police accountability remain vital, particularly as many incidents result in no criminal charges against officers. Data from a recent NJ Spotlight analysis indicates that over 100 cases of police interventions leading to death rarely lead to indictments. This has fueled calls for more significant reforms and greater scrutiny of police practices.
The tragic case of Deborah Terrell serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need for improved mental health crisis intervention and police accountability. Communities are advocating for systemic changes in how such situations are handled to prevent unnecessary loss of life in the future.
For more on mental health crisis response programs, you can read the [New Jersey Attorney General’s report](https://www.njoag.gov/programs/arrive-together/).
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Arrive Together,Deborah Terrell,mental health crisis,mental health professionals,New Brunswick police,Police killing,Questioning police accountability
