Police are often not equipped to deal with mental health callouts. Alternative first responders are better placed to de-escalate tension and reduce harm Police are often not equipped to deal with mental health callouts. Alternative first responders are better placed to de-escalate tension and reduce harm W hen police tasered and killed Clare Nowland – a 95-year-old aged care resident with dementia – after her nursing home called triple zero for help managing her behaviour, her family were