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Maryville police to start two-officer traffic unit and outreach for rising homelessness
Summary
Police Chief Costanoussis reported a new two-officer traffic unit will begin Sept. 15 to address problem areas and accidents; the department will also deploy teams to engage people experiencing homelessness and coordinate transportation assistance.
Police Chief Costanoussis told the council on Sept. 9 that the Maryville Police Department will start a two-officer traffic unit on Sept. 15 to concentrate on traffic problem areas and accident response. The unit will not be required to respond to regular patrol calls and will focus on traffic enforcement and accident mitigation.
Chief Costanoussis also reported an observed spike in visible homelessness across Indiana and in Maryville. He said department leadership met and approved a plan to assign two- to three-officer teams in two- to three-hour blocks to contact individuals identified as homeless, determine their intended destinations, and, where appropriate, provide rides to transportation hubs or other destinations outside town to get people moving along in a humane manner. The chief said the approach focuses on facilitating movement and humane assistance rather than arrests, and he cited winter as a concern for people without shelter.
The department also announced a free women's self-defense class on Oct. 8 at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Chief Costanoussis asked residents to slow down on roadways and noted the unit will supplement patrol efforts.
