[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6298282,"mediaKeyId","2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c","parentId",2504917,"title","Finance Committee grills police on downtown encampments, approves invitation to police chief","audioSeconds",2049,"startMs",1080270,"endMs",3129500,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c&start=1080&end=3129","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c/thumbnail_1080270.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6298282/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-grills-police-on-downtown-encampments-approves-invitation-to-police-chief","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298282-261f2b3135a460c82bad0cd6ca7f8a6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213855&Signature=dENJtqv1LKlvVFqwoPBWaFbTNdGB9QCszAwVQS-i5SyHB2FirTAOBBI0KMknQGFFwUmvK6ZIcyRULV9jiZd5Cc2w0yPJxPwiSY3-4RZ1gTYehp9nwaZnn9d7cUCmUit4rUkxRzSQOtB3~LCyh0SWC4t2UoQjOaG1B3iJrGMU7-d4Z6HIPLi3G7EG2TXJ-drqZWPtRdvImfpCox8uJrbCN-~lSocD0gpZ1aRs52ksmTFEYCnt41s9PvftGG~~6bhXiQ03HFYKHYE1f2FHx1cRUcGh81-mJ3HuGvGEAGhxGQQsESVG9zRcnBvcwogxNODgqXC~lGKIvdFKtA9IODROgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brockton City, MA","date","2025-03-04T13:09:42Z","article","The Brockton Finance Committee on March 3 invited Police Chief Brenda Perez or her designee to brief the committee on the Brockton Police Department’s strategy for enforcement and implementation of the city ordinances prohibiting camping on public property and prohibiting loitering in public places. Lieutenant William Schleeman of the department’s Community Engagement Unit appeared on behalf of Chief Perez and described current tactics, community partners and outstanding needs.

Schleeman said the department has deployed plainclothes officers in unmarked cars on all three shifts to downtown areas and has used those officers to arrest people for a range of offenses, from public drinking to drug distribution and outstanding warrants. “We do mitigate our enforcement with that compassion, with that humanitarian piece of it,” he said, adding that officers refer people to service providers when possible.

Schleeman listed several operational measures and partner resources:

- Plainclothes/enforcement: plainclothes officers and unmarked cars deployed across shifts, producing arrests for misdemeanor and felony offenses.

- Clinicians: the department has clinicians assigned a combined 64 hours per week; the clinicians can assist in crises and make referrals but are not case managers and cannot follow individuals through long‑term care.

- Day center grant: Schleeman said he had been informed that BAMSI received a roughly $300,000 grant to open a downtown day center; he had not seen grant paperwork come through the police department and said he was unsure whether the funding routed through the city or the agency.

- Community court: the department is planning to use an upcoming community court operating out of Brockton District Court; the idea is to have a resource table at the court so people arrested for low‑level offenses can access services and diversion programs.

- Cameras and signage: currently only one bridge is covered by a camera; police and DPW are working with IT to expand cameras downtown and have asked the MBTA to replace vandalized no‑trespassing signs under bridges.

- DPW involvement and cleanups: DPW crews join police three times per week to clear and clean bridge areas; Father Bill's Mainspring is discussing small storage options downtown so people can secure valuables during daytime hours.

Schleeman described targeted encampment clearances on White Avenue and the West Side and said the department will clear an encampment at Westgate Mall on private property. He also cautioned that enforcement can displace people to other neighborhoods, saying, “What I’m seeing right now is the issues that we’re addressing downtown, we’re just displacing them other places.”

Councilors pressed for more social‑service resources, housing and a stronger court pipeline. Councilor Thompson said enforcement alone would not solve the problem and urged a rehabilitative pathway in court: “There has to be multiple vectors of attack ... there has to be a process that's not punitive, but it's rehabilitative.” Councilor Tavares and others described practical barriers in the shelter system, limited housing availability and obstacles for people with criminal records.

Committee members said they support a downtown‑focused quality‑of‑life task force, additional social workers and coordination with county and state partners. The committee voted to recommend that Chief Brenda Perez or her designee appear before the finance committee to discuss enforcement and implementation of the camping and loitering ordinances; the motion passed unanimously. Members said they will seek updates from the district attorney’s office once the community court is active and asked that the police and city continue coordination with DPW and social‑service providers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brockton Finance Committee Meeting 3-3-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Brockton Finance Committee on March 3 invited Police Chief Brenda Perez or her designee to brief the committee on the department’s strategy for enforcing the city’s camping and loitering ordinances in response to downtown encampments.","taxTitle","Brockton City, Plymouth County, Massachusetts","taxId",4538,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6298287,"Finance Committee hears International Diplomatic Alliance presentation; votes to invite IDA representatives",651,325725,977300,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c&start=325&end=977","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c/thumbnail_325725.jpg","/articles/6298287/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-hears-International-Diplomatic-Alliance-presentation-votes-to-invite-IDA-representatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298287-396f3952e5529ede0534bfdaa9ff2f9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213855&Signature=I2~G865OAN8vzgfoipHecdBSP8az8by03IJaVqYrnlqQG7Ixer9ug75gfo5UR491Ewt2hEyzNkkioKrLstmrHU0sElYXyGyOiJPj2nJX7PXOysPwwz6TXCcGE9V1ZD6fUSO8rnbMUccrWOCfNEwZKKxJVLvAD1CAdl3ruGRk8ft3TZo6FnLbI-6US~P38swVG~d6zDEyaalgEmVb4NFcVjywLgjLM9nIgeW5tZibvfujIuLa9QrSWjecgY-hwVGggndM9Rn5nZMubeh8y5pxeqwWyrKw3E2T8drfNJiG03VxzFXZ-slN9gK85exzZsp7-K-4sftaHG1MONXcnH1dhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brockton Finance Committee on March 3 voted to invite Ward 2 City Councilor Maria Tavares and representatives of the International Diplomatic Alliance (IDA), a Missouri nonprofit, to appear before the committee and present concrete examples of their humanitarian work, including health care, education, social services, food distribution and combating homelessness.

Jared Crockett, introduced by Councilor Tavares, described the group's volunteer operations and overseas work. He said the organization operates in roughly 55 countries and in the U.S. conducts food and clothing distributions, school‑supply drives and disaster relief efforts. Crockett told the committee IDA is funded primarily by private donations and local fundraising and that local volunteers and in‑country representatives identify needs and carry out projects.

“If I have the opportunity to make a positive impact on at least 1 person, then they in turn do that to somebody else causing a chain reaction,” Jared Crockett said during his presentation.

Crockett described recent and planned activities including school‑supply drives, partnering on clothing and food distributions, and water well drilling projects in parts of Africa. He said the organization is seeking to work with larger agencies on disaster relief but has encountered administrative barriers; he cited difficulty reaching staff at federal agencies such as FEMA and USAID.

Councilor Maria Tavares said she joined IDA two years ago and described efforts to partner with a Boston food bank and to begin a local food distribution on Belmont Street pending final city inspection approvals.

After questions from Councilor Nicastro and others, the committee moved and seconded a recommendation to invite Councilor Tavares and any IDA representatives she wishes to bring before the finance committee; the motion passed unanimously.","Ward 2 Councilor Maria Tavares and Jared Crockett of the International Diplomatic Alliance described the NGO's humanitarian activities and the committee voted unanimously to invite IDA representatives to appear before the finance committee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6298292,"Finance Committee unanimously recommends three city appointments to full City Council",83,31990,115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c&start=31&end=115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c/thumbnail_31990.jpg","/articles/6298292/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-unanimously-recommends-three-city-appointments-to-full-City-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298292-7bd755c7ed668dbd92fb2b2e34fd9056/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213855&Signature=XO9SIIWR0wgcdimX~QfZwPoo-IlAOjLGW~ahZj65otE4nV6ROoIBDEc58GwNCDy~1P~R9~kCdPf4dPtUL2h1tkiPATO5MIjP-NKrzc9iNrfIT4epjDTp~LmDWPaNucdhcyzoswTGTAL8LItk9n8CtUcwlYZ1azdfQ5j~p756T4WAkDebZCwK~xeKF7Rib7p7lV4SChPyMNHWtmbuYWZuuZLQc2qjSXUuIzNKgsnrajnjTisAZuYTr07VfGNjxjhOs0P65pEyIYdznbOEerV0UUNO0vVL59KNRHtDK2BkidNlyWngmwF64D3c39376FiGNeax4DVvWJ3Hgomb0DlB8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brockton Finance Committee on March 3 recommended that the full City Council confirm three city appointments: Dr. Eliza J. Wilson to the Brockton Redevelopment Authority for a five‑year term ending February 2030; Patrick Hill for a three‑year reappointment as commissioner of public works ending February 2028; and Sandra A. Knight for a three‑year appointment as human resources director ending February 2028. The committee voted unanimously on each recommendation.

The recommendations fill senior administrative and redevelopment posts the committee said are important to downtown economic development and day‑to‑day city operations. All three motions to recommend were made and seconded during the meeting and passed without recorded opposition.

Dr. Eliza J. Wilson, who introduced herself to the committee from 26 Edson Street, said it was “an honor to serve on the board of the BRA and play an active role over the next 5 years to be laser focused on the economic development of our downtown.”

Patrick Hill, whose reappointment was presented as commissioner of public works, told the committee he was “thankful that the mayor selected me again for another 3 years, and, hopefully we can continue the good work we've been doing at DPW.”

Sandra A. Knight, introduced for the human resources director post, told councilors she planned to review department operations after taking office and emphasized work on diversity, equity and inclusion and “improving our hiring practices and processes.” Councilors asked about specific priorities; Knight said she would determine needs once in office and emphasized professional development for new staff.

Each recommendation will advance to the full City Council for final confirmation.","At its March 3 meeting the Brockton Finance Committee voted unanimously to recommend confirmation of three appointments: Dr. Eliza J. Wilson to the Brockton Redevelopment Authority, Patrick Hill as commissioner of public works, and Sandra A. Knight as human resources director.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":90,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6298277,"Committee highlights Council on Aging renovation and local student athlete in Boston Globe feature",3152345,3235770,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c&start=3152&end=3235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504917-5cb7ab82fffaa07a918eb1c0cc0d5a3c/thumbnail_3152345.jpg","/articles/6298277/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Committee-highlights-Council-on-Aging-renovation-and-local-student-athlete-in-Boston-Globe-feature","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298277-23bf2297e0baef5940a8011ae5d39bc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213855&Signature=jDS71bYlduasV6OaPDBi2I~SKx5QFIAiCTGbwvF7MstYJqs-F2IE4BH6S2GSm28cuRDAP-724xclg8ByG8-xIrQRcqY9B6EdpFJBzmE2zmG0mIkp8258uEflHqdVaB~Rsm7~CZCUXsJMecWELe108VJDvet2pAVQksx52~GzjD3UZmnTa17-WMHp7UpBMxp~u4E80EWcvXv-iIgFtjF~MEpBZqb4dJQfWw9X7fSpIxUlDcp9I~d7ZpbD-RaPYZ4befs8MqyA3HtPvHppjTZ7tJSR7pNtQoctpKPMvOIZRieDdh-174J9yYLpmUMR2Df2irddzH4ouKk4oR9Dkfm3QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members at the March 3 Brockton Finance Committee meeting announced the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Brockton Council on Aging center and congratulated its leadership. The renovation added about 4,000 square feet of space and the committee noted the center is open to all Brockton residents age 60 and older. Committee members said the project was paid for with federal ARPA funds.

Janice Fitzgerald, identified in committee remarks as the chair and director of the Council on Aging, was singled out for praise for the center’s reopening. Committee members encouraged seniors to review the Council on Aging monthly newsletter and the expanded program offerings.

Members also recognized a local student profiled in the Boston Globe Magazine. The committee referenced a profile of A. J. De Sant De Bantis, a Ward 4 resident and Davis School graduate who played at St. Sebastian’s and later transferred to a Utah school; the committee noted a reported college commitment to Brigham Young University and said he is a highly regarded basketball prospect.

The announcements were made near the end of the meeting and no formal action was taken on these items.","Committee members announced the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Brockton Council on Aging center, funded with federal ARPA funds, and recognized local student athlete AJ De Sant De Bantis for national attention and a college commitment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance Committee grills police on downtown encampments, approves invitation to police chief

Finance Committee hears International Diplomatic Alliance presentation; votes to invite IDA representatives

Finance Committee unanimously recommends three city appointments to full City Council

Committee highlights Council on Aging renovation and local student athlete in Boston Globe feature