I have commented repeatedly that the mentally ill act out by screaming “Look at me I have shit in my hair.” In the name of diversity they were ignored.  This incident shows that I was wrong, the proper protocol is to dance naked on the roof of an eighteen wheeler while announcing “I have shit in my hair”  My apologies for getting it wrong.

A naked woman shut down Highway 290 in Houston today for over two hours.  Police responded along with EMS and Fire.  It was rush hour, traffic was bumper to bumper and she stepped out in front of the truck forcing him to stop. According to witnesses she then started climbing onto the truck disrobing as she did so.  Once on top of the cab she began dancing, naked. I’m not sure, but I think I saw a former partner in the crowd with a buck in his hand.

Mental Health Deputies from Harris County Sheriff’s Office talked her down after two hours and a ladder truck with a platform brought her down. EMS transported her to the hospital for mental evaluation.  Police do not contemplate an arrest.

To ease micro aggression type concerns, the fire truck labeled heavy rescue carries specialized firefighters and equipment and is not dedicated to rescuing just fat people.

I look at all these assets dedicated to helping this woman, who apparently is having a mental health crisis and note who isn’t there. No mention of a Priest, Rabbi, Minister, Guru, or Shaman.  No identified licensed counselors.  No psychologists, psychiatrists, or physicians. In other words the professionals one normally associates with handling psychological emergencies didn’t bother to attend the party.

There was even a stray highway patrolman, but he heard naked woman on the radio, and like moths to a flame, it gets lonely out on the highway. One naked fat woman one highway patrolman.  Just doesn’t sing like “one ranger one riot”.

The point is that this is not a situation where police, fire or EMS are the best response.  But they are the only response. They each bring expertise, certainly being able to come face to face with her and still give her space was invaluable and the fire department is equipped to do that.  The mental health deputies by training and temperament were the best available to talk to her, if not the best available in the metro area.

Fifty miles down the road the response would have been four volunteer firefighters, a sheriff’s deputy, the highway patrolman and a stray game warden to accomplish the same task.

Keep this in mind when you read about these incidents. We ask first responders to do so much and they very rarely say no.  In those situations where they don’t perform at the very highest level, there is always somebody out there to complain that they didn’t do it right.