Million v. Croft et al

On August 2, 2022, Joseph Million was experiencing a mental health crisis in Bloomington, Indiana. His mother called 911 seeking help. Bloomington Police Officer Shaun Croft responded and, following a confrontation, fatally shot Million. On July 24, 2023, Leslie Million, acting as the personal representative of her son’s estate, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana against Officer Croft and the City of Bloomington. The complaint alleges excessive use of force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, failure to intervene, and municipal liability for inadequate training on mental health crisis response. The case underscores the fatal consequences that can arise when law enforcement is the primary responder to psychiatric emergencies.

The lawsuit was initiated on July 24, 2023. As of the current date, the case remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana; no final judgment has been entered, and motions or discovery are underway.

Whether Officer Shaun Croft’s use of deadly force was objectively unreasonable and violated Joseph Million’s Fourth Amendment rights; whether the City of Bloomington failed to adequately train and supervise its officers in handling mental health crises, thereby contributing to the constitutional violation; and the proper legal standards for evaluating police use of force against individuals in psychiatric distress.

The case intensified public scrutiny of police responses to mental health emergencies and renewed calls for investment in alternative crisis intervention models, such as mobile crisis teams. It sparked community discussions in Bloomington and beyond regarding police training reforms and accountability mechanisms to prevent deadly outcomes during psychiatric calls.