By Somalilandtimes network

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 07, 2006 – The fatal shooting of a Somali man who authorities said threatened sheriff's deputies with a knife has prompted plans to train deputies on how to deal with the mentally ill.

Local mental health experts will help the Franklin County sheriff's office design a training program.

"They reached out to us after the tragedy," Chief Deputy Steve Martin said.

Sheriff Jim Karnes provided no details of the training program but said he wants deputies who serve warrants to be trained first.

Four deputies, two in uniform and two in plain clothes, went to an apartment complex on Dec. 28 with a court order to take Nasir Abdi, 23, back to a mental hospital where he had been force-fed medications.

A health care worker believed Abdi was mentally ill and a danger to himself and others.

Columbus police detectives investigating the shooting said a deputy shot and killed Abdi after the man threatened the deputies with a kitchen knife that had a 6-inch blade.

Several hundred Somalis protested two days later at City Hall. Somali leaders said witnesses to the shooting never saw a knife in Abdi's hands.

Leaders of the local Somali community and city officials are discussing ways to improve relations between Somalis and police, and prevent problems.

Source: Associated Press, Feb. 07, 2006