General Resources / Legal Resources / Medical Resources / Briefing Papers / State Activity    
Hospital Closures / Preventable Tragedies / Press Room / Search Our Site / Home

Orlando Sentinel

January 15, 2004

Reprinted with permission of the author. All rights reserved.

LETTER
Untold story

There is an untold story of the Orange County Courthouse rampage 20 years ago. That is the story of an untreated severe mental illness. The Orlando Sentinel published a "My Word" on June 20, 2000, written by Thomas Provenzano's sister on the eve of his execution in which she states " . . . I could get help only if he did something violent. When he did become violent, however, help came in the form of a death sentence."

I understand all too well this tragic ending, as my brother Alan Singletary also went on a "rampage" in Seminole County in July 1998, resulting in the death of one deputy, wounding two others, and ending with Alan's death by the bullets of the SWAT team. He too had an untreated severe mental illness.

We can prevent such shocking events by changing the Florida law that requires imminent danger before medical intervention can be given to a person who is severely impaired with a mental illness. We can change the law to include court-ordered outpatient treatment for those who have a history of medication noncompliance and violence. New York, Wisconsin and North Carolina are examples of states that have successfully changed their laws and are seeing positive outcomes. These changes are not only more humane but also increase public safety.

The effort to reform the Baker Act is under way in the Florida Legislature, led by the Florida Sheriffs Association, Sen. Durell Peaden and Rep. David Simmons. Please let your sheriff, state senator and representatives know that you support this effort.

Alice Petree
SANFORD