The scheduled cleanup of a homeless encampment in West Hills, initially planned for Thursday, has been postponed due to an email sent by LAPD Senior Lead Officer Brittney Gutierrez. The email, which was labeled as “highly inappropriate” by the department, stated that “everyone will be arrested and their belongings will be taken away by sanitation.” The email was shared on social media by Film The Police LA, a website run by LAPD critic William Gude.
After seeing the screenshot of the email on Twitter, another user, @CaliCre8ive, tweeted, “If this email is legit, the LAPD is planning to arrest homeless on Thursday.” The LAPD responded by stating that the senior lead officer will receive extensive training from the department’s Homeless Coordinator’s Office. They also emphasized that the contents of the email do not reflect the department’s values or policies regarding homelessness.
In the email, Gutierrez mentioned that there is a need for a “hush hush task force” and advised against approaching the individuals experiencing homelessness. Gutierrez is assigned to the LAPD’s Topanga Division and has been working with the department since 2015. LAPD Capt. Francis Boateng will be hosting a community meeting on July 11 to address concerns and emphasize the department’s commitment to outreach, collaboration, community safety, and assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness.
City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, representing District 3, expressed his concern about the email, calling it “extremely disturbing.” He has discussed the issue directly with the Captain of LAPD’s Topanga Division and commended the command staff for taking immediate action and arranging a community meeting. Blumenfield emphasized that arresting individuals simply for being homeless is never acceptable.
Blumenfield also highlighted the importance of proper procedures for cleanups, including prior notice and appropriate outreach. City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, representing District 1, echoed these sentiments and stated that the email dehumanizes and traumatizes individuals experiencing homelessness. She criticized the allocation of a significant portion of the city budget to the LAPD, highlighting that the email reveals how that budget is being used.
In conclusion, the LAPD has postponed the cleanup of the homeless encampment in West Hills due to the inappropriate email sent by Senior Lead Officer Brittney Gutierrez. The department is taking steps to address the issue and ensure that such attitudes do not align with their values and practices. Community meetings will be held to emphasize the importance of outreach, collaboration, and assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness. City Council members have expressed their concerns and called for appropriate procedures and allocation of resources in addressing homelessness in Los Angeles.
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