"Elliott called police ... to request help for her then-19-year-old son, who was experiencing a psychotic break." I'm not sure the role of the police is to help you with your psychotic son. There are agencies for that. However, if you're psychotic son is violent and a threat to the community, then the rest of us would certainly like the police to take him out. Don't call the police if you're not prepared for that to happen.