Homeless Outreach Program Created By WCPD

WALNUT CREEK, CA — The Walnut Creek Police Department handles some 3,000 calls per year regarding homeless individuals, taking officers away from other duties. Clearly something needed to change. And the idea of how change would transpire came from within the department.

WCPD shared on social media Wednesday details of a Homeless Outreach Program (HOP). The two-officer pilot program is made up of Officers Domenick Clemente and Gary Silva. Instead of just dealing with calls and moving on, the officers will seek permanent solutions for the homeless by working with the Walnut Creek Homeless Taskforce, the Trinity Center, other city and county agencies and departments, plus the Mental Health Evaluation Team.

"Their objectives will be to build relationships with our homeless community," the department reported, "connect homeless persons with services, develop long term solutions to recurring problems, work with residents and businesses to address homeless related issues, lower calls for service, enforce laws with a compassionate but firm approach, prevent illegal alcohol sales and work with other agencies to have a bigger impact within our community.

"They will also continue to work closely with the already established partnership with Public Works to identify and remove unsafe and illegal encampments."

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The Walnut Creek HOP team got to work last month and is already making an impact. Here's what the officers have accomplished:

• 213 contacts
• 25 arrests
• handled 94 homeless related complaints from the public
• offered services to 90 homeless persons
• worked with Cal Trans and private property owners to remove unsafe encampments that contained hazardous waste
• returned 20 shopping carts to business owners

If you have concerns about the homeless near your home or business, contact the officers by email: Silva@walnutcreekpd.com or Clemente@walnutcreekpd.com .

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