Ventura County sheriff escribes new homeless liaison unit, regular "backpack medicine" visits to Fillmore riverbed

Good evening. I'm James Douglas. I'm a sergeant with the sheriff's office, and my partner Cameron Knox is here with me.

Members of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office presented the newly formed full-time Homeless Liaison Unit to the Fillmore City Council, describing seven-day coverage, regular outreach in the Santa Clara River bottom and other local encampments, and on-site care delivered through so-called "backpack medicine" teams.

The unit was converted from a part-time collateral team to a full-time squad after the Board of Supervisors approved the change about a year ago, Sergeant James Douglas said. The unit is organized to provide seven-day coverage, with one sergeant and four deputies on duty each day, supported by a captain in an administrative role.

Why it matters: Council members pressed for details about how outreach leads to housing and how the unit handles public-safety and environmental concerns. The presentation outlined the unit's service-first approach and emphasized coordination with health, veteran and behavioral-health partners to address medical needs on site and reduce repeat nonemergency calls to patrol.

Douglas described the unit's outreach model and partnership mix. "Backpack medicine" deployments bring medical staff, behavioral-health providers, vaccine teams, addiction services, veteran services and ER doctors directly to encampments to offer vaccines, medical assessments, Narcan distribution, and on-the-spot care, he said. The unit also helps secure remote sites so other agencies can safely deliver services.

Deputy Cameron Knox, who has worked Fillmore patrol for about seven years and drove the local outreach effort before the full-time unit formed, said most people living in the Fillmore riverbed are local residents rather than long-term transients. "That population changes on a weekly basis," Knox said, adding that many residents have family in town and that occasional pass-throughs occur along the highway.

Douglas and Knox said persistent contact and repeated outreach are important: some people decline services during one visit but accept help weeks later once rapport is established. The unit aims to connect people to short-term shelter and ultimately to permanent housing when possible.

Council members praised the unit's work and asked about barriers to housing placements. Douglas said the unit cannot compel treatment or shelter but can repeatedly offer services and coordinate placements when individuals are ready to accept them. He cited a recent local case, described by the sheriff's office on social media, in which a deputy's contact and subsequent coordination with the Homeless Liaison Unit and partner agencies led to temporary shelter and eventual placement in veterans housing.

The presentation did not propose new city policy or ask for city funding. Council members welcomed the presentation and offered support for continued coordination with city staff.

The council did not take any formal action on the presentation; the item was informational only.