Serving and Protecting the Downtown: Conversations with Commander Jay Johnson

In ongoing efforts to improve communication between the public and private sectors, the Downtown Long Beach Associates is dedicating a portion of our newsletter to the Long Beach Police Department South Division. Over the next few months, the DLBA will dialogue with Commander Jay Johnson, addressing key issues facing the Downtown. This month, we are pleased to introduce you to a new Quality of Life Unit that Commander Johnson has recently implemented: A “calls-for-service unit” that specializes in dealing with homeless.

The idea for this cutting-edge police unit actually came from within the ranks. For senior Officers Seminara and Megee, two officers under Commander Johnson who were serving in the Downtown area, it became increasingly evident that something needed to be done to address the homeless issue in the urban center. As they interfaced with the increase of Downtown residents and ongoing quality of life issues, they began to brainstorm solutions. Taking these ideas to commanding officer Johnson, a plan began to formulate.

In the past, LBPD addressed some of the homeless problems by making arrests and taking people to jail for what some may consider minor violations. Though Commander Johnson stressed, “Being homeless is not a free pass to commit crimes and we will aggressively take all criminals to jail,” he wanted another solution, as he and his officers believe many of the homeless arrested for minor violations aren’t actually criminals. Johnson said, “Often times, they are merely people down on their luck, in between places and jobs or perhaps lack the mental capacity to help themselves.” Thus, the new unit was launched to address issues specific to the homeless community.

The new Quality of Life Unit has joined with many other resources in the area—churches, the Homeless Coalition, residents, DLBA, as well as the City’s homeless services—to learn how best to be well-equipped to both help and refer people the officers meet on the streets. The unit is trained to help the homeless off the streets and restore them to society.

“Continuing to drop food and clothes off in Lincoln Park is not the solution,” says Commander Johnson. “It is not a long term answer and that is what we need.” This unit is dedicated to connecting the homeless with the resources they need; additionally, the Police Department has trained Mental Evaluation Teams (MET) that help to address those with mental illnesses and get them the help they need. “We don’t have all the answers, but we are trying to make the link to people who might have the answers,” says Johnson. “We are all striving to achieve the same goal—an end to homelessness in Downtown Long Beach and a life of dignity for everyone.”

For more information about the LBPD Quality of Life Unit, please contact the Police Department at (562) 570-7206.