Post by rmarks1 on Aug 23, 2019 20:41:06 GMT -5
Late last month, intergovernmental relations officer Brie Franco pointed Austin Police Department Chief Brian Manley and others to a neighborhood post online about homelessness.
In the post, a resident said Austin police officers who answered his 911 call about a suspicious homeless man warned him that the city is in the beginning stages of a public crisis, similar that shown in the documentary “Seattle is Dying.” The resident, who is not identified but lives off South Congress Avenue, wrote that officers recommended he “write (Council Member Ann Kitchen) and continue to call 911.” The man also wrote that officers told him that under current city law, they are limited in what they can do.
In passing along the post, Franco noted: “It contains references to how some officers have responded to certain situations regarding the homeless, so I thought it was best to share with you.”
RELATED: Mayor Adler, council members grilled by hundreds over homeless camping ban
It was one of several examples in recent weeks that has city officials concerned about how police officers are talking about the city’s homeless policies in routine interactions with residents or while responding to calls, emails obtained by the American-Statesman indicate.
Council members in June voted to eliminate several ordinances related to homelessness, including a panhandling ban and a no-sit, no-lie ordinance. The most controversial was the reversal of the no-camping ordinance, which some fear will lead to tent cities.
The move came after critics said the laws were not effective, burdened homeless people with criminal records and fines, and hampered efforts to help homeless people become employed and find homes.
However, others have said they were necessary to combat aggressive behavior and aid law enforcement. Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened that he will seek to override the city’s policies.
It has prompted a citywide debate about how Austin should tackle homelessness — and several complaints from City Hall to the Police Department about how officers discuss the issue.
Several police administrators subsequently sent messages to officers with guidance on what they should and shouldn’t say in their interactions with the public.
“Please, remind officers that it is unprofessional to tell concerned citizens to watch ‘Seattle is Dying’ and warn them that we are in the beginning stages,” Assistant Chief Todd Smith wrote Aug. 1. “Inferring we can’t do anything with dangerous people is misleading and causes unnecessary fear.”
www.statesman.com/news/20190821/emails-show-austin-police-politicians-at-odds-over-homeless-policy
In the post, a resident said Austin police officers who answered his 911 call about a suspicious homeless man warned him that the city is in the beginning stages of a public crisis, similar that shown in the documentary “Seattle is Dying.” The resident, who is not identified but lives off South Congress Avenue, wrote that officers recommended he “write (Council Member Ann Kitchen) and continue to call 911.” The man also wrote that officers told him that under current city law, they are limited in what they can do.
In passing along the post, Franco noted: “It contains references to how some officers have responded to certain situations regarding the homeless, so I thought it was best to share with you.”
RELATED: Mayor Adler, council members grilled by hundreds over homeless camping ban
It was one of several examples in recent weeks that has city officials concerned about how police officers are talking about the city’s homeless policies in routine interactions with residents or while responding to calls, emails obtained by the American-Statesman indicate.
Council members in June voted to eliminate several ordinances related to homelessness, including a panhandling ban and a no-sit, no-lie ordinance. The most controversial was the reversal of the no-camping ordinance, which some fear will lead to tent cities.
The move came after critics said the laws were not effective, burdened homeless people with criminal records and fines, and hampered efforts to help homeless people become employed and find homes.
However, others have said they were necessary to combat aggressive behavior and aid law enforcement. Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened that he will seek to override the city’s policies.
It has prompted a citywide debate about how Austin should tackle homelessness — and several complaints from City Hall to the Police Department about how officers discuss the issue.
Several police administrators subsequently sent messages to officers with guidance on what they should and shouldn’t say in their interactions with the public.
“Please, remind officers that it is unprofessional to tell concerned citizens to watch ‘Seattle is Dying’ and warn them that we are in the beginning stages,” Assistant Chief Todd Smith wrote Aug. 1. “Inferring we can’t do anything with dangerous people is misleading and causes unnecessary fear.”
www.statesman.com/news/20190821/emails-show-austin-police-politicians-at-odds-over-homeless-policy
Bob
