The scheduled cleanup of a homeless encampment in West Hills, which was planned for Thursday, has been postponed due to an email from a senior lead officer of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) that has been deemed “highly inappropriate.” The LAPD released a statement on Wednesday in response to the email sent by Officer Brittney Gutierrez on June 14, which discussed the cleanup and stated that “everyone will be arrested and their belongings taken away by sanitation.”
The email was brought to public attention by William Gude, a Hollywood resident and LAPD critic, who runs the website Film The Police LA. He posted a screenshot of the email on social media, leading to concerns about the LAPD’s plans to arrest the homeless individuals on Thursday.
In light of this incident, the LAPD has announced that Officer Gutierrez, who was not named in the statement, will undergo extensive training by the department’s Homeless Coordinator’s Office. The department has emphasized that the contents of the email do not align with their values, policies, or practices concerning people experiencing homelessness.
In the email, Officer Gutierrez stated, “As always, do not approach these individuals experiencing homelessness. I want to make sure all are there at the encampment on the 29th so I can arrest them. This is a hush hush task force.”
Officer Gutierrez is assigned to the LAPD’s Topanga Division and has been with the department since 2015. LAPD Captain Francis Boateng will hold a community meeting at Shadow Ranch Park on July 11 to reinforce the department’s commitment to outreach, collaboration, community safety, and assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness.
City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, representing District 3, expressed his concerns about the email on Twitter, calling it “extremely disturbing.” He has spoken with the command staff of the LAPD Topanga Division and commended their serious response to the situation, including the organization of a community meeting. Blumenfield stated that arresting people simply for being homeless is never acceptable, regardless of the location.
Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, representing District 1, also expressed her disapproval of the email on Twitter, stating that it dehumanizes and traumatizes community members experiencing homelessness. She highlighted the fact that a significant portion of the city budget is allocated to the LAPD, and this email demonstrates how they are utilizing those funds.
Both council members emphasized the importance of proper posting, notification, outreach, and accompanying assistance in carrying out cleanups of homeless encampments.
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