'Operation Relentless Sun' Targets Palm Springs' Homeless Population

PALM SPRINGS, CA — When Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills announced in January that his officers would deploy "Operation Relentless Sun" in an effort to reduce homelessness "and the visual blight associated with urban camping," he was responding to public concern about the city's notoriety as having the highest number of unsheltered residents per capita in Riverside County.

The results of Operation Relentless Sun's first month in effect are now in.

According to figures released Thursday by the Palm Springs Police Department, 340 people living in the city during February were identified as homeless by officers. Resource pamphlets were handed out to most of the individuals, and 24 people accepted housing help, while 14 others were reunited with family or friends out of the area, according to the department.

Another 68 people were arrested — a little over half of them on alleged felony charges.

Mills said police officers typically encounter three types of unsheltered residents: indigent people who want and need help; mentally ill or severely drug-addicted residents; and the "criminal homeless."

The chief said officers were fiercely targeting the last group amid Operation Relentless Sun. According to his January announcement, Mills directed all Palm Springs police officers "to apply a focused deterrence strategy for the criminal element living amongst the homeless."

"That means the top 30 most intractable criminals will receive relentless attention through offers of help and strict enforcement," Mills said.

For the mentally ill and/or drug-addicted homeless residents, the chief said it is difficult for law enforcement to effect change without additional resources being deployed, such as street-level mental health workers, among other things.

Mills also advocated for detaining the mentally ill and drug-addicted "in a secured facility."

"The legislature must immediately create laws to enable secured detention," he said.

In the meantime, Mills called on the city's homeless residents to "do their part" amid Operation Relentless Sun.

"I implore you to accept help. Your path is unsustainable," he said. "Please, let us work with you to find your way back to a healthy life. I am assigning officers to help you succeed. Now, you must do your part."

Plans for a new homeless navigation center in Palm Springs are still underway.