Petaluma police sweep homeless camps

Petaluma police Monday visited more than 20 illegal campsites along the Petaluma River, Lynch Creek and other open spaces during a sweep of homeless encampments in an effort to reduce illegal camping and dumping.

Officers cited eight people on suspicion of trespassing or occupying lands without permission and posted notices at 20 other vacant campsites warning against illegal camping, police officials said. They also handed out lists of resources available to help people find housing and other services, Sgt. Ken Savano said.

The sweep comes in response to public complaints at town hall meetings, held by the police chief, about homeless camps, Savano said. In addition, a number of transients in the past several months have been found dead of natural causes in and around the Petaluma River and area waterways. Police officials last week said they were starting a review of such deaths.

“Hopefully these sweeps will help get people, who might end up in those situations, to services,” Savano said.

Three officers set out Monday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all-terrain motorcycles to help get to the rural areas, which aren’t easily accessible, Savano said. In the past, police have coordinated sweeps with city or probation crews to help clean up the mess but that was not possible Monday.

“It’d be one thing if it was possible with a couple people using pickers and garbage bags,” Savano said. “But when you have to have back hoes, and a lot of stuff has to be moved out from areas that are not accessible, it’s rather complicated.”

They targeted areas along the Petaluma River, Lynch Creek and other open space are known to hold campsites.

The eight arrests mainly involved suspicion of misdemeanor trespassing. Those arrested, ages 36 to 76, were found in camps along Hopper Street and near Lynch Creek and Petaluma Valley Hospital. They were cited and released to appear in court at a later date.

In addition to trespassing, the camps often have associated issues including drugs, sexual assault, theft and vandalism. Also, human waste and garbage often end up in nearby streams and waterways, according to the release.

Officers plan future such operations and face a significant challenge of getting the camps cleaned up, officials said.

The camps need to be cleaned up and cleared or a new camp quickly will be established, officials said.

They asked anyone who sees such a camp to report it by calling police at 778-4373.