Southpinellas: No 'last resorts' needed yet

ST. PETERSBURG - Police Chief Chuck Harmon said Friday that officers would arrest homeless people as "a last resort" while enforcing strict new city ordinances that prevent people from sleeping on sidewalks and other public rights of way.

Speaking at a press conference just hours after a City Council meeting, Harmon said police officers would try to reason with homeless people who were violating the new ordinances and attempt to get them help, such as access to shelters. Officers would arrest homeless people only if they encountered stiff resistance, Harmon said.

"It is not our intent and has never been our intent to criminalize homelessness," Harmon said. "Enforcement is going to be our last resort."

The City Council passed a series of ordinances Thursday night that forbid people from putting up tents or any other temporary shelter on public property. The ordinances also prohibit sleeping on rights of way adjacent to residences or sleeping on any right of way if shelter space is available.

The City Council approved the ordinances over the objections of advocates for the homeless and a coalition of civil rights groups and the Pinellas-Pasco public defender's office, which told council members that the laws may be unconstitutional.

The city has also reopened a tent city on property owned by St. Vincent de Paul on Fourth Avenue N that it shut down in January, saying it will have room for 75 tents.

The police department's vow to reason with the homeless was a far cry from the harsh approach it took after the murders of two homeless men in January, when officers raided two tent cities and cut tents with scissors, knives and box cutters.

Both Harmon and Mayor Rick Baker called the raids a mistake after they provoked outrage and drew national attention.

By Friday morning, the two satellite tent cities appeared abandoned. Police spokesman Bill Proffitt said there were 75 tents and 100 people at the city-endorsed tent city.

Several homeless residents in the new, sanctioned tent city said they appreciated the security. But some added that they wanted more input and resent having to wear wristbands.

"How would you like someone to build a house for you, an architect, and he doesn't consult you at all?" asked G. W. Rolle, who has been homeless since October.

Some homeless people have gone to the Lakewood United Church of Christ on 54th Avenue S, where parishioners have voted to open a 30-tent encampment on church property. City officials say any property owner needs a permit before allowing people to sleep outdoors.

Harmon said police officers had recently gone by the church, but not seen any tents. If tents are erected, Harmon said, it would be a code enforcement issue, not a police matter.

Times staff writer Christopher Ave contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.

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Comments on this article

by sue	09/07/07 12:15 AM
my ex-husband has been homeless down in clearwater for 22 months, he is an alcoholic and sleeps in tents or tarp, I think it is so sad and we are having him come home and try to get him the help he needs, he is leaving florida to get better life.

by timster	06/17/07 03:39 PM
i wonder how the circuit court judges, mayors, city council members, et al, will react when I pitch a tent on the sidewalk in front of their mansion. Or for that matter, if a whole host of us camp on their sidewalks...

by Bradley	04/06/07 11:11 AM
the story made me think about how many people are homeless. It made me feel that there is something that needs to be changed.

by Caster	04/05/07 02:26 PM
hope this comments page is still in use. here it goes: when you are homeless you are judged, stereotyped, profiled, labeled, call it what you want. it is very important for the public to understand that losing everything can happen.

by JTM	04/04/07 04:37 PM
Marynia: Are you homeless? I was. I know the homeless here. You obviously don't. And you don't know the number of crimes that are committed here, but 'hidden' from the public. YOU obviously don't care about residents of Tarpon. Take a homeless home!

by Marynia	04/02/07 11:38 AM
It takes a spoiled and selfish person to foster such disdain for the homeless. Help the community and you help yourself. The community at large could practice more listening to get to an efficient resolution.

by JTM cont'd	03/29/07 02:20 PM
The homeless here get violent with the new homeless to the point of murder. They want Tarpon 'for their own'. Yes you read this right! The Tarpon homeless should be driven out of town, the mayor should do more to rid them. They don't work, spoiled!

by JTM	03/29/07 02:17 PM
As a resident of Tarpon I feel every resident should step to the plate and say enough of giving, giving, and giving to the homeless up here. Those that need help can't get it cause the homeless up here just swallow it up, and no results of any kind.

by Barker	03/28/07 04:32 PM
most of the homeless openly panhandle. someone driving by should make a call to the police. with all the charities around, do people have to reach into their pockets even more? most homeless guys refuse to work and are very open about it.

by Terry Ann	03/28/07 03:21 PM
So again the spoiled homeless brats of Tarpon have a 'buddy' of their's get sliced up this past weekend. Can't the powers that be just round up these losers and put them away for a longer time when they do get arrested.

by stan	03/28/07 12:53 AM
most of those people don't want two work. a free b in life. thay get there beer money or drug money panhanding on r streets and free food from the churchs. what is to b is up 2 me... i'm homeless 2. but i try 2 look 4 work. gas and ins is killing me.

by Shemp	03/21/07 09:28 AM
I've tried to get shelter/housing, no luck. One needs a place to rest properly & look decent for work. I'm ready to go back to work, but look tired in the morning due to lack of sleep. I am not a chronic anything. Do not put me in same category.

by Stella Gertzer	03/21/07 09:10 AM
Tarpon has the best fed homeless. They are spoiled. 3 meals: 7-days/week. I'm against the building of a health & drop-in center on St. Tim's Lutheran property. Big mistake Pastor Curt. The church property looks terrible on its feed days: Wed.& Thur.

by Jacko	03/21/07 09:03 AM
Homeless daily routine: don't go to work, panhandle, beer, eat at St. Vincent's 3x/day, panhandle, beer, ask for cigarette (never have to buy), lounge around--anywhere, complain about people and police,lounge around some more, drink beer, complain.

by Greer	03/21/07 08:57 AM
There are homeless who have hit financial ruin due to using their own funds during and after illness. When you are laid up after an accident or such, most likely you use your own money. Let's not get these confused with tent city type who are chronic

by Jro	03/19/07 08:56 AM
It's unfair for the homeless and advocates to expect & demand a hand OUT, but it is fair for us to give a hand UP. Give a man a fish he'll eat for a day TEACH a man to fish he'll eat for a lifetime.

by Drew Finn	03/17/07 11:42 PM
Lot's of places for all of these bums to stay - Arizona is nice this time of year. Camping out in a public place should not be allowed, if so, then we can all do it whenever and wherever we choose. Where does it stop???

by Toothless in SP	03/17/07 06:43 PM
Send in Tricky Rick and the Box-Cutter Band, that'll show 'em!

by Candi	03/17/07 04:22 PM
I have just read all the comment's on the homeless, and alot of you seem to think it's just druugie's and doper's it's not people loose there job's some are menatily ill, FOR GOD'S SAKE!S What isn't going right blame the bum's! Read th BIBLE!!!!!

by jk	03/17/07 04:01 PM
By the way we that work etc. are having a hard time finding affordable housing, home owners, etc. We all know this. 'Easy Street", if you go hungry in St. Pete it's your own fault. Wow I didn't know that.

by Candi	03/17/07 03:54 PM
try to get them in program's for work and help them find jobs? The people from the chrch's could have nice close for a job by donation. And I think alot of help should come from church's for god see's the suffering of these people READ YOUR BIBLE

by jk	03/17/07 03:51 PM
Once again I am going to say if you had gone to see 'Easy Street' you would understand why all these people are here. Free food 24-7, street begging is great, cops are ok. The word is out. Who's fault is it? Easy Street here.

by Candi	03/17/07 03:49 PM
It's just a shame we have the homeless in Ameriaca! We are supose to help are brothers and sister's as god's eye's see it. Why don't the churche's get togeather and put there fund's togeather and make like a dorm for them and help them clean up and

by Sara	03/17/07 03:05 PM
What happened to public housing? Isn't that suppose to help! I have a neighbor living off food stamps and a rent vouger for the past 2 years. He should be homeless, but he acts as if he is retired living free off the system.

by Karin	03/17/07 02:32 PM
Jourdan, I have stayed in a spouse abuse shelter. I know what it is like, I also was there with women who wanted everything done for them and it was never enough. I have been homeless and undemployed but I didn't make a life of it.

by jack s	03/17/07 02:01 PM
Hey Phil...i have known G.W.Rolle for several years. he paid his debt for his conviction many years ago. He is well educated and a skilled cook. Its attitudes like yours that contribute to his homelessness. GW is a good man .. too bad about you.

by Rickster	03/17/07 11:16 AM
There is a big giant tent at Crescent Lake today for a party. That is a tent on public property. Is that now illegal? They say they are not targeting the homeless, why is the big giant party tent on public park property OK?

by Marianna	03/17/07 11:03 AM
Why aren't these people REQUIRED to work to get in to these camps? Yard work, garbage clean up, etc. No work no tent. Dollars to donuts they will leave because they are LAZY! What a crock! Hey Baker, I want my water bill covered too, oh and my taxes

by JT	03/17/07 10:06 AM
Why is it that no one ever mentions family as a source of assistance instead of Govt.and taxpayer? All of these people are not from here. They need to go back to where they came from or the bill to care for them needs to be sent there...

by Kay	03/17/07 10:04 AM
Mayor Baker should fire this pathetic chief of police and bring in a true leader from outside the City to clean the department up. This chief has promoted nothing but weaklings to his staff. Major Bevin cuts up tents and this is what we get?

by Dan	03/17/07 09:58 AM
Police Chief Chuck Harmon created this homeless problem through his inept and incompetent leadership. Now he talks about last resorts give me a break. What ever happened to the officers who cut up their tents? No demotions or discipline whatsoever.

by John	03/17/07 09:46 AM
What a surprise the St. Petersburg rapist is a homeless guy.

by Vic	03/17/07 09:39 AM
I am wondering just why the law allowed anyone to sleep in a public right of way in the first place.Does this mean I could have gone over to one of the beach towns and camped out on the right of way in front of a beautiful gulf front mansion?PHOOEY!

by TOM	03/17/07 09:28 AM
Hey, if each bleeding heart would take one " homeless person" in to their home the problem would be solved.

by julie	03/17/07 09:18 AM
Well I certainly hope no one commenting here ever falls on hard times. But of course, no it couldn't happen to them...