Fort Lauderdale police homeless outreach team demonstrates client contacts during ride-along

Officer Scott Hegman, a member of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department's homeless outreach team, explained the department's approach during a recorded ride-along segment noted in the hearing record.

"Today, you're gonna be doing a ride along with me and seeing how we interact with our homeless clients," Officer Scott Hegman said, identifying himself and his unit. Hegman described the work as "more outreach, social work," and said team members visit known locations to try to enroll clients into services and follow up on court-linked cases.

In one on-camera encounter captured in the transcript, outreach staff described a person who remained in a busy intersection because well-meaning passersby repeatedly gave the person food, clothing and other items, which the outreach team said made it harder for the person to accept relocation or services. Hegman explained that such informal support can unintentionally reduce incentives for people to accept assistance: "People that mean well, but they're making it really easy for her to not get the help she needs," he said.

Hegman said the team works with community court clients and uses case management strategies to coordinate services. The exchange in the record did not include any new policy approvals or funding decisions; it documents an operational description of the homeless outreach team's field work.