A new policy approved Tuesday by the Los Angeles Police Commission calls for law enforcement to treat the city’s homeless population with “compassion and empathy,” the L.A. Times reported.
In light of its officers being emerged daily in one of the country’s top ranked city in terms of chronic homelessness, the official policy approved by Los Angeles Police Dept. Chief Charlie Beck this week outlines expectations regarding how local cops should interact with the nearly 44,000 residents who lack shelter.
“This order established a policy to ensure that Department personnel are familiar with and recognize the special needs of people experiencing homelessness in the City of Los Angeles,” police documents read in part.
“Those experiencing homelessness are among the must vulnerable in society, and contacts by Department personnel often require special consideration and coordinated assistance from multiple government agencies. When called upon to contact an individual experiencing homelessness who was a vicim of a crime, witness to a crime or is suspected of committing a crime, Department personnel must maintain the highest standards of professionalism and take into account the unique circumstances and challenges that homelessness causes for individuals and families.”
Simply put, the policy directs LAPD officers to treat homeless people with “compassion and empathy,” the L.A. Times reported, earning praise from law enforcement officials and Mayor Eric Garcetti alike.
“Our officers are on the front lines of this crisis. Each day, we ask them to act as members of law enforcement, social workers, psychologists … often in a single encounter,” Police Commission President Matt Johnson told the newspaper. “The policy before us today emphasizes people’s rights and dignity, and provides a balanced, compassionate framework for the LAPD to operate under.”
The policy goes on to state that law enforcement, when appropriate, “should assist individuals experiencing homelessness by offering guidance and information to obtain temporary housing, medical or psychological services if needed, or other available services.”
“Department personnel, however, shall steadfastly respect the individual’s right to refuse assistance,” police documents acknowledge.
The LAPD’s decision to adopt the policy follows two officer-involved shootings in 2015 that resulted in the deaths of individual who were experiencing homelessness at the time. The fatal shooting in March of Charly Keunang in downtown L.A.’s Skid Row was captured on camera by an eyewitness and uploaded to the internet, resulting in those outside of southern California to question how police interact with homeless persons.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority said that 46,874 people were experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County as of last month, up 5.7 percent from one year prior. Of those, around 28,464 reside within L.A. city limits either in temporary shelters or on the streets.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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