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Police chief: camping ordinance working but contacts and services remain high; public urged to report vulnerable people
Summary
North Bend Police Chief Mitts briefed councilors on Feb. 10 about ongoing outreach to people experiencing homelessness and said targeted enforcement plus a community resource officer have reduced some problem locations but demand for services remains high.
Police Chief Mitts told the North Bend City Council on Feb. 10 that the city's camping ordinance and focused outreach have stabilized problem sites but that officers and the community resource officer continue to make frequent contacts with people experiencing homelessness.
Chief Mitts described the work of the department's community resource officer and community service officer, who routinely visit known camping areas, check on individuals and connect people to resources such as veterans services or warming shelter openings. "More than 90% of the time, he knows them by first name," the chief said of the community resource officer's contacts.
He encouraged members of the public to report concerns when they encounter someone they believe is at risk: "If anyone sees a situation where they're concerned for the safety of somebody from exposure ... call the business line, talk to the dispatcher, say this is what I saw at this location this time." The chief and councilors noted the Salvation Army runs a warming shelter that staff monitor for openings and to which officers can refer people in freezing weather.
Councilors asked about the relationship between homelessness and crime. Chief Mitts said he does not favor criminalizing homelessness but acknowledged some people who are repeatedly contacted are involved in vandalism or other offenses that require enforcement. He said a small number of individuals require disproportionate officer time and that mental‑health crisis teams and mobile response teams respond multiple times a day to assist.
The council discussed seasonality, RVs and camping patterns; Chief Mitts said summer months typically see increased use of waterfront and harbor areas. Councilors also discussed the property watch program and business outreach to encourage private property owners to join the city's property watch to reduce loitering and trespass.
Ending: Councilors asked staff to revisit waterfront site needs before summer and to continue partnering with mobile crisis teams, the Salvation Army and outreach providers.
Why this matters: The briefing described how the police department is balancing enforcement, outreach and partner services to manage public safety and connect people to resources while alerting the public to report situations of immediate risk.
