Police report: lodging-outdoors ordinance shows few contacts, shelters cited as factor

Hagerstown's police chief told the council on Dec. 9 that the lodging-outdoors ordinance has produced a modest number of documented contacts and that shelter availability and early cold weather appear to have reduced interactions.

"We have 44 documented contacts," Chief Piper said, adding that 52% of those were proactive contacts and 47% were reactive. Among individuals where age was reported, he said ages ranged from early 20s to 70, with most between 35 and 45; 81% of incidents involved single individuals.

Chief Piper said 59% of contacts occurred on public property and 40% on private property. Of the documented encounters, 51% of the individuals were "moved along and informed of the ordinance," 37% were removed and demonstrated awareness of the ordinance during contact, and the remaining arrests were for warrants or other violations rather than the ordinance itself.

On service connections, Chief Piper said 81 of 100 percent (transcript: among 36 respondents) reported they had been offered services during the interaction or previously. He said unemployment remains a significant contributing factor: 95% reported being unemployed among those who answered that question, and many described lacking a place to go.

"We're postulating that the colder-than-normal weather and the shelters being open has reduced our contacts," Chief Piper said, adding that staff and community partners continue outreach and data collection. He said the ordinance will be revisited as part of a sunset review, with another update scheduled in January and the council deciding whether to extend the ordinance.

Council members asked for a month-to-month visual of the contacts; staff agreed to provide that breakdown at a future meeting. No formal action was taken at the Dec. 9 work session.