"Didn't Meet the Standards"
The ongoing struggle with involuntary commitments
Last Sunday, the Pennsylvania governor’s residence in Harrisburg was intentionally set fire in the early morning hours as Gov. Shapiro and his family slept. Thankfully, all made it out unharmed.
Within days, authorities announced they had the arson suspect in custody. A 38-year-old Pennsylvania resident named Cody Balmer, who has a documented history of mental illness, a few nonviolent criminal convictions, a 2023 assault charge, and antigovernment statements on social media in recent months.
According to search warrants released yesterday, Balmer called 911 after the fire and reportedly told operators he targeted the governor in part because of what he believed were Shapiro’s views on the war in Gaza. He said Shapiro, who is Jewish, needs to know he “will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,” that Shapiro needed to “stop having my friends killed,” and that “our people have been put through too much by that monster.”
But today, it sadly became clear this was, ultimately, a mental health matter. His family said as much.
In the days before Balmer allegedly set fire to the mansion, his family repeatedly called police and mental health agencies for help and intervention as his mental health alarmingly deteriorated. Family members reported he’d been chewing on batteries, disappearing for periods of time, and acting erratically. But officials all gave the same answer to Balmer’s family: he didn’t meet the standards for involuntary commitment and there was nothing they could do.
The Penbrook Borough Police Department confirmed their agency received calls from Balmer’s family about his concerning behavior, but that police weren’t able to detain him because Balmer “hadn’t made any threats to himself or others,” he “didn’t meet the threshold for involuntary commitment.”
Today, Balmer is now charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson, terrorism and other crimes. If convicted, he’ll get that involuntary commitment anyway. In prison.
Changing the Standards, Changing the Threshold
I just wrote about this topic in mid-March after I helped testify at an Iowa House sub-committee meeting on HF 312, an act relating to order for treatment of a person experiencing psychiatric deterioration. The proposed Iowa bill defined “psychiatric deterioration” as:
A person unable to understand the need to treat their mental health condition
Based on the person’s history the person is unable to understand the need to treat their mental health condition
Within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, unless the person receives treatment, the deterioration is likely to continue until the person has a serious mental impairment.
HF 312 was written for the exact scenario that happened in Pennsylvania. Advocates are trying to prevent serious deterioration and the dangers to the individual and others it can pose.
Laws similar to HF 312 have already been enacted in 34 states. But like Iowa, Pennsylvania also does not have a psychiatric deterioration law, which is why local law enforcement and mental health agencies couldn’t intervene with Cody Balmer. Even when his family reported he had a history of mental illness, was not taking his medications, had vanished for four days, and had started to—literally—chew on batteries.
I was disheartened a few weeks ago when HF 312 didn’t make it through the second funnel week in the Iowa legislature. But, I am encouraged by the advocacy work already in motion to help re-write the Iowa Chapter 229 commitment code to address the gaps in dealing with psychiatric deterioration and commitment, and hopefully build in more preventative options.
As Balmer’s former partner said, “Had he gotten the help … these actions would not have happened.”
Because I’m often writing about the pain and struggles of others and sharing their stories for anyone to learn from, my columns are available to all subscribers for free, but I deeply appreciate any financial support for this work.
As always, I’m deeply grateful for any reader who takes the time to read my stories.
I’m a member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative with my “Gaps” column.
We’re a group of writers from all around the state and contribute commentary and feature stories of interest for those who care about Iowa and beyond.
We’re a group of writers from all around the state and contribute commentary and feature stories of interest for those who care about Iowa and beyond.
Click here to meet our writers and column topics.
This week I want to highlight a fantastic column Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture by fellow IWC member Robert Leonard.
Paid subscribers are also invited to the IWC “Office Lounge” held the last Friday of the month at noon. Here is the Zoom link for April 25!