West Covina honors two-officer HOPE outreach team for housing and encampment work
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Summary
The council recognized Corporal Joseph Mello and Officer Dominic Martinez for running the two-person HOPE homeless outreach and park enforcement team, which staff said handled about 1,600 calls for service and helped house 111 people over the past year.
The West Covina City Council on Nov. 18 presented a meritorious unit citation to members of the police department’s HOPE (Homeless Outreach and Park Enforcement) team for work addressing encampments and connecting people to shelter.
Mayor Tony Wu introduced the recognition, saying officers "Joseph Malo" (as introduced) and Dominic Martinez set "the standard for excellence" and that the small two-person team had a large impact across parks and neighborhoods. Police staff and the chief credited the team with about 1,600 calls for service in the past year and said the effort contributed to housing roughly 111 people.
The police chief described encampment removal as a "tedious process" that requires coordination with social-service partners, animal transport for pets, and follow-up casework. He said the department aims to expand the HOPE team as staffing permits — possibly adding two officers and then two more over time. The chief emphasized partnerships with Los Angeles County agencies and nonprofits, and encouraged residents to report illegal activity or people in need through the non-emergency line.
The recognition included a certificate and a ribbon the officers can wear on their Class A uniforms. Councilmembers thanked the officers and described the program as a model of collaboration among police, social services and local nonprofits.