LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Captain explains what’s being done to address the chronic homelessness concerns around the UNLV area, particularly around the Flamingo Wash.
LVMPD Captain Landon Reyes joined the South Central Area Command in March.
“What are the issues in this area? It’s drug addiction, mental illness and homelessness,” Reyes tells FOX5, how he has met with residents, apartment managers and social service organizations to get a grasp of the issue.
“With the Sheriff’s vision of being the safest community of America for our department, you’re not going to be doing that, just arresting your way out of the problem. We have to learn why someone is unhoused. We have to learn why they’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, where the mental illness stem from,” Reyes said, noting how officers with the Homeless Outreach team work to connect the homeless to services.
Officers can offer rides to get to housing or treatment.
FOX5 covered the heated town hall, Monday, where frustrated residents expressed concerns over the planned evacuation of homeless camps in the tunnels. Residents voiced fears that the unhoused will linger around the neighborhood and bring problems such as drugs, violence and burglaries.
According to flood control officials, the $15 million improvement project will last about a year. Improvements will include adding barriers to keep homeless from returning to the wash.
Tuesday morning, LVMPD officers and firefighters with gas masks and HAZMAT suits went into the Flamingo Wash and ordered people to permanently leave.
Social workers with HELP of Southern Nevada came to the area and offered dozens of people shelter and services. Some accepted help that day; social workers will continue outreach to those impacted.
FOX5 crews went back to the area, Wednesday, and saw people trying to climb back into the wash.
This year alone, LVMPD officials said (as of Monday) the encampments around the Flamingo Wash have been cleared 49 times.
“I do understand [neighbors’] concern and frustration,” Reyes said. “The optics might be like we’re not doing anything, we’re not arresting people, but there’s a time and place for that,” he said.
“There’s two things really that we need to focus on as law enforcement: status versus conduct. Status is protected Rights under the 1st amendment and 4th Amendment. Conduct is criminal conduct,” he said.
Reyes explained, it’s not a crime to be homeless; if someone isn’t committing a crime, police may leave them alone.
Police can enforce laws when crimes are committed, including trespassing. Officers can also enforce the County’s new public camping ban, but there’s a process: first a warning, then a citation, then possibly an arrest if someone refuses to move their encampment.
Reyes explains, when arrests are made, it’s important to track the release of chronic offenders to see if they return to the area.
Even before the homeless are warned to leave, the captain said it’s important to address their needs for social services or treatment.
“All of that is part of the education process before the warning… There’s a mental illness, drug addiction, alcohol abuse. ‘Here’s all the resources. What can we do to help you?’ Reyes said.
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