Petaluma Police Survey Illegal Homeless Encampments Along Trail

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police and Public Works Department employees used all-terrain vehicles Friday to survey health and safety conditions at illegal encampments along the Lynch Creek Trail.

In a message to the community Thursday, Police Chief Ken Savano said the city has received numerous complaints about crime and safety conditions along the trail.

Petaluma police officers Ryan DeBaeke and Zeus Rivera, members of the Homeless Outreach Services Team, were assigned full time two years ago to patrol illegal encampments especially those along the Lynch Creek Trail, Savano said.

The two officers, however, were reassigned to patrol due to staffing shortages in the Patrol Division since October, Savano said.

"This was only done out of absolute necessity and we fully intend to assign them back when staffing allows," Savano said in his community message on Facebook. "In the meantime, this problem has become much worse, especially along the creek which is hard to patrol in a regular patrol vehicle."

Friday's survey along the Lynch Creek Trail between the confluence of the Petaluma River east to Petaluma city limits near Prince Park will be used to create a comprehensive enforcement and cleanup plan, Savano said.

"The debris that is generated from a cleanup of this scale requires not only enough staff to do the cleanup, but also coordination of numerous debris boxes," Savano said.

Additional officers were assigned to conduct enforcement and properly notify people in the encampments to assure their constitutional rights for due process are not violated before removal of property can begin, Savano said.

Police are asking residents to report crime, suspicious behavior and encampments when they see them.

"Even though our response may be delayed, it helps us find the camps and address them along with their associated crime and safety issues," Savano said. "Some residents are helping by sending pictures with locations."

Savano said the Homeless Outreach Services Team's model has always been to try to provide financial, shelter, mental health and substance abuse services first and enforcement second.

"To address the underlying issues is much more effective for long-term problem solving than simple and multiple arrests," Savano said.

"Relying on the limited patrol resources is not an effective or sustainable model for a problem of this size and we are hopeful to bring the dedicated resources back as soon as possible," Savano said.

By Bay City News Service

Image via Petaluma Police Department