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Resident raises safety concerns over person with belongings at Hanley Park pavilion
Summary
A Ward 3 resident told the Public Safety Committee she repeatedly saw a person and belongings under the Hanley Park pavilion; the police chief said officers lack legal grounds to remove the individual because no ordinance was violated but said staff are attempting mental‑health referrals.
A resident of Ward 3, Sophie Beckman, told the Brentwood Public Safety Committee she has repeatedly seen a person with a shopping cart, two suitcases and a blanket under the Hanley Park pavilion and that his presence makes her reluctant to enter the pavilion with her dog. "I have concerns about Hanley Park," Beckman said during citizen comments, noting she photographed the belongings and had alerted her alderman.
Chief of Police (speaker 6) responded that the person and his mother have mental‑health challenges and spend time in the park during daytime hours. "He's not breaking the law," the chief said, explaining officers have attempted to enroll the person in mental‑health programs without success and that the department lacks probable cause to remove someone who is not sleeping overnight or committing an offense. Committee members asked staff to continue monitoring and exploring outreach options. The committee did not adopt formal enforcement changes at the meeting and encouraged continued coordination between parks staff and police to identify services and safety measures.
