HELP US FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR DREW

I write this on behalf of my mother Gloria Washington knowing her tears and cries over loosing her son will never end. I write this knowing our family will never be whole again. I write this because Drew’s life mattered to all who knew and loved him. I write this to tell his story, our story and to bring attention to the NECESSITY for JUSTICE FOR DREW. We hope our fight for justice will be the catalyst for change for men, women and children living with mental illnesses.

How Did We Get Here?

On August 27, 2023 my brother Andrew Jerome Washington III was SHOT and KILLED by Jersey City police officers after our family called the Crisis Center in Jersey City Medical Center for HELP. “Drew” as we lovingly called him was in the depths of a mental crisis.

My brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1996 and bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in the mid 2000’s.

On August 27, 2023 our family was attempting to get DREW the MEDICAL TREATMENT he desperately needed and instead he was treated like a criminal; SHOT and KILLED in HIS OWN HOME.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND My brother’s Mental illnesses DID NOT kill him. Drew fought his way back to health over and over again FOR 27 YEARS!

My brother was in a mental crisis and the response by LAW ENFORCEMENT was to ESCALATE THEIR INTERACTION WITH HIM, BREAK INTO HIS HOME AND, USE LETHAL FORCE. ONE MENTALLY ILL MAN COULD NOT BE SAFELY TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY A SMALL ARMY OF POLICE OFFICERS?

Our family needs your help…please sign our petition to fight for JUSTICE FOR DREW and PLEASE DONATE TO JOIN US IN THIS FIGHT FOR JUSTICE.

WE WANT TRANSPARENCY

•The Attorney General’s Office has ONLY released the 33 minutes leading up to Andrew’s DEATH to the public. We want ALL OF THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE. Beginning the moment EMS and police arrived at Andrew’s home to the moment we were told DREW DID NOT survive.

WE DESERVE ANSWERS

•During the 33 minutes the police were OUTSIDE Andrew’s apartment door WHY WASN’T A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SPECIALIST brought in to speak to Drew?

•During the 33 minutes the police were OUTSIDE Drew’s door why was Our Family DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO HIM TO HELP CALM HIM DOWN?

•Who gave the call To Break Down His Door?

•WHY did one officer choose a TASER and a different officer choose his GUN at the SAME TIME?

•AFTER BEING SHOT TWICE by the POLICE. Drew was brought out of HIS HOME on a stretcher. WHY was our family told BY POLICE NOT TO SPEAK TO HIM OR CALL OUT HIS NAME?

•WHY WAS OUR FAMILY DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE IN THE AMBULANCE WITH DREW?

•Why did Jersey City Medical Center LIE to at least 3 MEMBERS of Andrew’s family? Stating “ANDREW WASHINGTON WAS NOT IN OUR SYSTEM AND NOT AT THIS HOSPITAL.”

•WE NOW KNOW DREW WAS TAKEN TO THAT HOSPITAL AFTER BEING SHOT BY THE POLICE

•DREW DIED IN THE CARE OF Jersey City Medical Center Hospital.

•Why did it take nearly 3 HOURS (After Andrew was put into an ambulance) BEFORE OUR FAMILY WAS NOTIFIED OF DREW’S WHEREABOUTS AND THE AWFUL TRUTH OUR DREW DID NOT SURVIVE?

•When and How will Jersey City implement and improve proper responses to mental crisis calls?

•97% of MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE are KILLED WHEN the POLICE are the FIRST RESPONDERS to a mental crisis call.

•Across New Jersey, TWO OUT OF THREE USES OF FORCE by LAW ENFORCEMENT involve a civilian SUFFERING from MENTAL ILLNESS or substance abuse.

•OVER half of ALL FATAL POLICE ENCOUNTERS occur in circumstances involving the MENTALLY ILL or substance abuse.

•THE SYSTEM IS FLAWED. THE SAME ARMED OFFICER responding to a ROBBERY is also responding to an emergency call of a person in a BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.

•”The Attorney General’s Office and the New Jersey State Police piloted an initiative—in line with Governor Murphy’s vision for public safety in the state—that pairs together a State Trooper, TRAINED in CRISIS INTERVENTIONS and DE-ESCALATION techniques, with a CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH SCREENER AND CRISIS SPECIALIST to respond to 9-1-1 calls involving behavioral health incidents”

•The involvement of an ARRIVE TEAM leads to FEWER arrests, FEWER USES OF FORCE, FEWER INJURIES AND ADDRESSES RACIAL DISPARITIES.

•With the ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM 97% of cases DID NOT USE FORCE and 98% of cases did not result in an arrest.

•Between 2022 and 2023 ALMOST EVERY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN NEW JERSEY has NOW used the ARRIVE program except for JERSEY CITY. IT COULD HAVE SAVED MY BROTHER’S LIFE.

•WE WANT THE ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM funded and implemented by Jersey City’s Mayor Fulop, Jersey City’s City Council and The Jersey City Police Department.

•WE WANT the officer who shot and killed Drew held accountable. And the politicians in Jersey City who IMMEDIATELY called this miscarriage of justice JUSTIFIABLE held ACCOUNTABLE!

•WE WANT Legislation in ANDREW’S NAME that provides protection for the mentally ill when experiencing a mental crisis including safe transportation to the hospital, adequate mental health care, appropriate time to stabilize and heal while in the hospital, providing medication and multiple psychiatric evaluations. Implementation of residential treatment programs available and outpatient treatment services paired with patients before release from the hospital.

•WE WANT Legislation in ANDREW’S NAME that allows investigations and accountability when a person suffering from a mental crisis is UNJUSTLY KILLED BY THE POLICE.

We encourage you to learn more about Arrive Together Program and how it has SAVED the LIVES of men, women and children living with Mental Illnesses.

“PLEASE DON’T HARM HIM” were the last words my family would say to the police before officers broke down Drew’s apartment door and SHOT HIM TWICE. The last words my mother’s son would say before he was killed (from inside his apartment) was “Leave me alone”.

JOURNEY TO JUSTICE

Many will ask what does JUSTICE look like for my mother and our entire family.

JUSTICE is a concept of moral rightness based on ETHICS, RATIONALITY, LAW, NATURAL LAW AND EQUITY. It is also the act of being JUST AND FAIR.

JUSTICE is the ETHICAL idea that PEOPLE ARE TO BE TREATED IMPARTIALLY, FAIRLY, PROPERLY, and REASONABLY BY LAW.

LAWS are to ENSURE that NO HARM BEFALLS ANOTHER.

We ask is my brother’s death JUSTIFIABLE? Is this what JUSTICE should look like? A death sentence for a human being who is MENTALLY ILL?

We say NO!

There is no logical explanation nor justification for the actions of the officers and medical personnel involved. We have seen this police misconduct and excessive force too often when it comes to men and women with mental illnesses. It is time to put an end to it.

The worst outcome has now become a living nightmare for our mother Gloria and our entire family. The police didn’t just take Drew from us they left our family with life long trauma, regret and guilt over calling for help, grief that will never end, and a void that can never be filled.

Drew’s Life

Our mother has always said her son Drew was born brilliant. My mother and our entire family can only describe him as loving, caring, compassionate, charismatic, charming, wise beyond his years, incredibly intelligent, funny, and thoughtful.

After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1996 it took a heavy toll on Drew, our mother and our entire family but he found his way back from every manic episode and the bouts of depression to recovery and health.

Many have also asked how to join us on this journey. This page is a way to help our family continue the fight for JUSTICE FOR DREW. My mother and I live in California and we both have health conditions that made it impossible for us to travel and attend his service. I have two autoimmune conditions. Our mother was advised by her doctor not to travel at this time due to her medication for her heart and blood pressure but we are in the depths of grief.

We never imagined Drew would be killed by law enforcement officers because of his mental illness. If only we treated mental illness like physical illnesses my brother would have received medical treatment NOT DEATH.

THE CITY OF JERSEY CITY believes my brother’s death was justified. “A split second decision was made…” He lunged at officers with body armor on and a shield….”Drew was cursing and acting very intense”

Our response to that is THIS IS WHY WE CALLED FOR HELP FOR DREW! A Mental Crisis and Bipolar Manic Episode REQUIRES MEDICAL ATTENTION! After reviewing the portion of video footage released to the public it is clear THE JERSEY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT trained on how to properly respond to a HUMAN BEING in a MENTAL CRISIS.

Your Donations will be used for our legal defense with the goal of ensuring Drew receives the Justice He Deserves. DONATIONS WILL HELP WITH LEGAL FEES, RALLIES, MARCHES, and the EXTENSIVE TRAUMA THERAPY our family needs after experiencing and witnessing such a horrific tragedy. Donations will be used to help support my mother and family during this difficult time.

Our mother Gloria, prays no family will ever experience the pain she and Drew’s siblings feel; as well as the suffering our entire family must endure.

Death is permanent and grief will be felt forever; but our family is determined to not grow weary in this fight for Justice. We are committed to Justice For Drew.

As we heal my mother wants to use your generous donations to create a foundation in Drew’s name where families of men and women living with mental illnesses have access to all the resources, information and assistance they need and a foundation that provides assistance to men, women and children living with mental illnesses.

This is a fight for a more FAIR AND JUST society. A time to END excessive force. A time to hold these police officers accountable. Now is the time for policy reform for people living with mental illnesses. A time to stand together for justice. Inaction and Indifference in cases like Drew’s is NO LONGER an option. The time for justice is ALWAYS NOW!

Created by The Washington family seeking Justice for Andrew Jerome Washington III.

“They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name

~Ancient Egyptian Belief

SAY HIS NAME…

ANDREW JEROME WASHINGTON III

“DREW”