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Police report: cold-weather protocol in effect, sidewalk enforcement and outreach for downtown homelessness
Summary
Police Chief Baldwin told the board the governor's cold-weather protocol is active through Feb. 10, City Hall and the senior center are open as warming centers and Trinity Church serves weekends; the department reported about 12 DWIs last month and roughly 66 homeless-related responses this year, and referred business complaints downtown to Harbor House and the Northwest YMCA.
Police Chief Baldwin briefed the board on cold-weather operations and outreach options on Wednesday.
"Cold weather protocol is in effect until February 10," Baldwin said, noting that City Hall and the senior center are open during business hours as warming centers and that Trinity Church acts as a weekend warming center when City Hall is closed. Baldwin said officers have issued about 10 tickets for sidewalk violations and recorded about 12 DWIs in the last month.
The chief reported that patrol canine Ferro has been retired after roughly 10 years of service and that only one working patrol canine remains assigned to Officer Curtin. Baldwin said the department has a social worker who conducts outreach when available but that the city does not have the resources to compel people into services.
When Commissioner Sherwood raised complaints from downtown businesses about people loitering and hygiene issues, Baldwin said business owners should call police if the situation presents a public-safety concern and said outreach partners include Harbor House and the Northwest YMCA. "We do have a social worker ... she'll do some outreach ... but unfortunately she's very busy," Baldwin said. He added the department has responded to about 66 homeless-related issues so far this year and said Harbor House serves roughly 600–700 people monthly.
No new enforcement policy or additional funded outreach program was approved at the meeting; commissioners discussed contacting Harbor House about possible mobile outreach or volunteer support.
