Lakeport Police Department assigns officer to homeless outreach duties
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department has assigned a new homeless outreach officer to further our efforts to help those experiencing homelessness in our community.
Police Officer Melissa Bedford is now assigned to this duty and will work with the police administration to coordinate the agency’s efforts to address this very complex societal problem.
“As the public should be aware, the police cannot singlehandedly solve this problem. If the problem is ever to be solved there must be a coordinated effort which includes law enforcement, social services, behavioral health services, alcohol and drug counseling services, community organizations and numerous others,” the department said in a Friday statement.
The Lakeport Police Department has long been a community-oriented policing service agency; as such, it essentially works with the entire community to solve and mitigate problems which include homelessness.
“Many in our community have serious concerns about homelessness in Lakeport and going forward we hope to address all of those concerns and assist those in need, but remember we cannot do this alone,” police said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the homeless problem even more difficult for police to address. The department said each of its police officers have always been part social worker and part mental health counselor but that’s the case now more than ever, and they need more help.
Unless a person is over 65, is sick or has serious medical issues, is willing to self-isolate alone in a room during the shelter in place and be able to get into the special state-funded Roomkey project, the only homeless shelter in Lake County is the Hope Harbor COVID-19 temporary shelter in the city of Lakeport.
“At capacity, this shelter will not accommodate all of the homeless individuals we are aware of just in the city of Lakeport. We hope to direct those in need of services to the appropriate agencies and work with the community in our ongoing efforts,” the department said.
“Success isn’t measured by how many people you arrest but how many people you can get directed to help themselves. Over the past few weeks, we have seen success stories. A few weeks ago Rose was homeless in Lakeport and we were able to get her into the Hope Harbor COVID-19 temporary shelter. Rose is off the streets and doing remarkably well and making positive changes in her life,” police said.
On Thursday, the Lakeport Police Department was able to work with another homeless woman who had been on the Lakeport streets for the past two months. “We were able to get her into temporary housing where hopefully she can get back on her feet, back to work and back into permanent housing and a better life.”
The department said it has a strong partnership with Hope Harbor and its officers have been doing considerable work with getting people into the shelter. “However, this shelter is temporary during the shelter in place and we do not yet know how it will look in the future.”
Anyone wishing to provide police with thoughts or suggestions regarding homelessness in the community or how police can help those in need can email Officer Bedford at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .