Pete Christiansen spent eight months trying to convince Milwaukee authorities to commit his son for mental health treatment.

From November 2022 to June 2023, Christiansen and his son called the police six times. Body camera footage shows Christiansen repeatedly pleading with officers to take his son, who was refusing treatment, to a hospital.

Each time, police said Christiansen’s son did not meet the criteria for involuntary commitment, also known as Chapter 51.

Read the full story: He wanted his son put into mental health treatment. Milwaukee police said no.

Christiansen’s experience mirrors that of many families. Some say the legal bar to commit people into psychiatric treatment has become too high in Milwaukee.

Here is a timeline of Christiansen’s interactions with police.

Nov. 9, 2022

Christiansen calls the police on the advice of a mental health professional who saw his son earlier that day and noticed his growing agitation.

Officers try to enter the apartment but are blocked by Christiansen’s son, who repeatedly yells at the officers to “put a bullet” in him. Christiansen tells police that he fears for his son’s safety and his own, describing how his son tried to peel off Christiansen’s fingernail earlier that day and previously yanked his walker out from under him.

Meanwhile, a Crisis Assessment Response Team, or CART, is on its way. CART teams consist of one police officer and one mental health clinician. In the car, the police officer and clinician discuss the situation and decide Christiansen’s son does not meet the criteria to be taken involuntarily.

Upon arrival, the clinician stays in the car. The police officer goes inside Christiansen’s apartment and suggests that the other officers arrest Christiansen’s son for battery. The officers watch Christiansen’s son take one of his medications and leave.

Nov. 10, 2022

Christiansen’s upstairs neighbor calls the police because she hears Christiansen’s son yelling. The police talk to Christiansen’s son, who tells them that the neighbor is hacking into his computer and stealing his music.

Jan. 14, 2023

Christiansen calls the police and tells them his son hit him on the side of his head. Police arrest his son on potential domestic violence charges. Christiansen is frustrated and tells the police his son needs mental health help instead.

Days later, Christiansen receives a phone call from a prosecutor, who advises that charging his son and putting him through a diversion program may be the only way to get help. Christiansen asks the prosecutor not to charge his son.

Feb. 4, 2023

Christiansen calls the police and reports that his son swung at him. Police officers convince Christiansen’s son to go to a hospital.

Christiansen’s son leaves the hospital the same night.

March 2023

Christiansen’s son punches his father in the face, according to Christiansen. The next day, one of Christiansen’s front teeth falls off. Christiansen decides not to call the police.

April 2023

Christiansen’s son hits him again, according to Christiansen. Christiansen does not call the police.

April 28, 2023

Christiansen’s son calls the police because he believes people are hacking into his computer and stealing his music. Christiansen pleads for the police to take his son for involuntary commitment. The police say his son doesn’t meet the criteria to be taken involuntarily and tell Christiansen that Milwaukee’s mental health system is becoming worse.

June 11, 2023

Christiansen’s son tells Christiansen he is going to jump off a bridge, then leaves the apartment. Christiansen calls the police, who find his son at a grocery store. The police decide his son is not dangerous enough for involuntary treatment.

At home, Christiansen explains to an officer that his son recently dragged him off the bed. Police arrest his son, who says in the back of the squad car that after he gets home he will kill himself. He is released the next day with a 72-hour restraining order barring him from the apartment he shares with his dad.

Later that day, an officer tells Christiansen that it’s become much harder to take someone involuntarily in the last decade.

June 12, 2023

Christiansen gets a check-in call from a CART officer, who hears Christiansen’s son talking in the background and realizes he is violating his restraining order. The officer calls the police. Christiansen goes to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office to cancel the restraining order on his son.

Later in 2023

After Christiansen pleads with his son not to kill himself, his son agrees to start getting help. He meets with his care team again, adjusts his medications and starts to feel more calm with less frequent delusions.

Eva Wen is an investigative data journalist. Reach her at qwen@usatodayco.com.

Milwaukee County mental health resources

• The Milwaukee Mobile Crisis team provides 24/7 mental health crisis intervention for people of all ages in Milwaukee County. This non-police team is composed of counselors, therapists, psychologists and nurses. It ca be reached at 414-257-7222.

• The Mental Health Emergency Center offers 24/7 emergency mental health services for people of all ages. It is located at 1525 N. 12th St. in Milwaukee and can be reached at 414-966-3030.

• Access Clinics help uninsured Milwaukee County adults get assessed for mental health conditions or substance use disorder and connected to therapists, peer support, and long-term behavioral health resources. Walk-in assessments are available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1635 W. National Ave., 210 W. Capitol Dr., and 8200 W. Silver Spring Dr.

• Crisis Assessment Response Teams consist of one police officer and one trained clinician that can respond to mental health crises. Request a CART team by calling 911; the Milwaukee Police Department non-emergency line at 414-933-4444; the West Allis Police Department at 414-302-8000; the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office at 414-278-4788; or the Wauwatosa Police Department at 414-471-8430 ext. 5126.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Timeline: A Milwaukee father’s fight for son’s mental health treatment