What is the role of the Police Department in dealing with the homeless and less fortunate?
The Palm Springs Police Department has a full-time officer and a full-time civilian assistant assigned as Community Policing Officers. Homelessness is a complicated social issue, but these employees receive special training and develop a network of resources to assist them with homeless issues and with Crime-free Multi-housing. Like the rest of the population, all homeless people are not alike. There are homeless people that commit crimes and prey on others. Our Community Policing Officers will make arrests as appropriate and deal with them as they would anyone else breaking the law. There are other homeless people that are law-abiding and just need a helping hand. Our Community Policing Officers are able to assist them with referrals to public and private social services that provide necessities such as shelter, food, and transportation. You can contact our Community Police Officers directly by calling (760) 778-8421.
