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Staff: Police not changing anti-camping enforcement; chief will present crime-reduction plan in January
Summary
City staff told the commission the police department continues an education-and-service-first approach after a recent court ruling, officers are no longer required to call shelters under the ordinance and the chief said there is no plan for mass property clearing; the chief will return to the commission in January.
City staff briefed the Commission on Diversity Awareness on Dec. 18 about enforcement of the anti-camping ordinance after a recent court decision.
Chris Rhode said he met with the police chief and deputy chief on Dec. 5 and that the department reported no written change to officer direction: training still emphasizes an education-and-service-first approach, connecting people to available social services and using a co-response model that can include social workers.
Rhode told the commission the only ordinance change following the court case is that officers are no longer required, by ordinance, to call a shelter to check bed availability before taking enforcement steps. "They are not required to make a phone call to the shelter as a part of this process anymore," Rhode said.
Rhode said the police chief emphasized the department does not have and does not plan to create a 'camp-busting' program to impound property or clear camps en masse. "They do not intend to go in and begin impounding property or clearing out folks if they're all in one area," Rhode reported summarizing the chief's comments.
The new police chief intends to publish a comprehensive crime-reduction plan early next year that will include strategies addressing homelessness, substance use, mental health and shelter capacity; Rhode said the chief also plans to advocate for more shelter beds.
Commissioners were invited to submit questions in advance of the chief's planned January appearance so the department can provide detail and possibly share the draft plan for review before publication. No formal action was taken at the meeting.
