Community groups are demanding that police no longer serve as first responders in mental health emergencies, following the death of 28-year-old gay man Collin Burling during a welfare check in Waterloo earlier this week.
Burling died after being restrained by officers at his apartment complex in the early hours of Tuesday morning, amid what was described as a mental health-related crisis.
Footage recorded by his partner, Taite Collins, shows four police officers pinning Burling to the ground. In the video, Burling can be heard repeatedly pleading:
“I’m not a threat… Help me.”
Moments later, Burling went into cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
Rachel Evans, spokesperson for Action for Public Housing, said Burling’s death was part of a disturbing trend.
“This is a pattern. In the last five years, more than 55 people experiencing severe mental distress have died in police interactions.”
Past Incidents Highlight Growing Crisis
The death echoes other fatal police responses involving people in mental health crises. In July 2023, 43-year-old Jesse Deacon suffered an acute breakdown at his Glebe public housing unit. A neighbour called for an ambulance, but police arrived instead. They forced their way in and fatally shot Deacon.
“Mental illness is a health problem, not a police problem,” said Jesse’s mother, Judy Deacon. “We don’t want police responding to people in mental anguish.”
First Nations man Patrick Fisher fell from the 13th floor of a Waterloo public housing block while fleeing police in 2018. And in 2004, Indigenous teenager TJ Hickey died during a police pursuit in the same neighbourhood.
“Police attend acute crises and can make things worse,” Deacon added. “Their involvement often leads to tragedy, particularly for vulnerable and Aboriginal people. They act without consequence.”
Calls for Mental Health-Led Crisis Response
Several advocacy organisations — including Action for Public Housing and Pride in Protest — will rally at Town Hall on Saturday, calling for mental health professionals to be the first responders in crises, not armed police.
“This is a war on the poor and vulnerable,” said Evans. “Police are killing people in and around public housing. Jesse, Collin, Patrick… they should all still be alive. We need trained mental health staff, not armed officers.”
LGBTQ+ Community Reacts
Queer activist group Pride in Protest offered condolences to Burling’s loved ones and condemned the police’s involvement in mental health crises.
They also cited other deaths in custody, including Gaurav Kundi (SA), Kumanjayi White (NT), and Jack Kokaua (NSW), as evidence of a broken system.
“Healthcare workers are begging for better pay and conditions while the public psychiatric system collapses — yet there’s always more money for police,” the group stated.
They reiterated their calls for:
- The removal of NSW Police from the Mardi Gras parade
- An end to Operation Mardi Gras, which they say fosters a “dangerous” police presence at queer events
“Collin’s murder comes over a year after Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were allegedly killed by off-duty police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon. That officer has still not entered a plea,” the group noted.
“The NSW Police Force’s so-called reconciliation with queer communities is a farce. This institution is built on racism, queerphobia, and systemic violence, with no accountability.”
Official Response
NSW Premier Chris Minns rejected claims of police misconduct, stating:
“Officers perform a difficult job under difficult circumstances. We have robust oversight processes in place to ensure public confidence in investigations.”
A critical incident investigation has been launched by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad. The case will also undergo an independent review by the Professional Standards Command, overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
