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Hagerstown police and council discuss proposed ordinance to prohibit camping in public spaces; data collection proposed
Summary
Police presented a proposed ordinance to prohibit lodging out of doors that would criminalize setting up residence in tents or vehicles on public property; staff proposed a six‑month data collection plan and monthly reporting if the ordinance is adopted.
Hagerstown police presented a proposed ordinance April 8 that would prohibit lodging out of doors — defined in the draft as camping, erecting tents or otherwise setting up a residence on public property or in vehicles — and requested council guidance on moving the measure forward.
The ordinance is framed as a limited enforcement tool for “rare and extreme” situations in which individuals refuse repeated orders to vacate public property after shelter options and social‑service referrals have been offered. Lieutenant Ted Lewis and police staff said enforcement would typically take the form of a criminal citation or summons rather than immediate arrest for low‑level misdemeanors; they emphasized the department’s preference for offering services and alternatives when possible.
Police proposed collecting a short list of data points over a six‑month monitoring period if the council adopts the ordinance: age, last known address (to determine whether individuals are local), whether the individual is receiving services, addiction status, prior police interactions, whether interaction was proactive or reactive, and mental‑health indicators. Council members suggested adding mental‑health status and family status (including whether families or children are involved) to data collection. Police said mobile crisis and community resource officers already collect related information and that monthly summaries could be provided to council.
Several council members and staff framed the ordinance as an additional enforcement tool rather than a solution to homelessness; members urged the continued focus on shelter capacity, service referrals and funding for nonprofits. Police cited prior operational data showing substantial officer time spent on social‑service calls and estimated manpower figures (for example, an estimate equating to roughly eight officer‑years of cumulative time across a six‑month window, calculated with two officers per welfare check as a typical response pattern). Police and council agreed the tool should be specialized and limited in use, and that staff would report monthly if the ordinance is enacted.
