Manchester police chief discusses new ordinance banning camping on city streets, in parks

Manchester's police chief is reacting to news that a new ordinance intended to reduce homeless encampments on city streets and in parks was approved.The ban on public camping in Manchester was passed by aldermen Tuesday night and was set to take effect as soon as possible. Violators could face fines of up to $250.Mayor Jay Ruais proposed the ban Tuesday, and typically, there would have been more than one reading of the amendment. But aldermen moved forward in approving the ban in a 14-1 vote.The vote came even as some members of the public objected during the meeting.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<"We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness," one man said. "Unhoused people need homes, not handcuffs," another woman said.Under the amended rule, police can remove people from the streets, day or night, regardless of emergency shelter availability. Ruais said the city has the resources to support people who choose to be on the streets."If you want help and you need help in the city of Manchester, it exists," Ruais said. "What we won't tolerate is people breaking our laws or ignoring our ordinances."The mayor said arresting people is not part of the plan."It's the enforcement mechanism that we have in place," he said. "This is not criminalizing it. Nobody's going to jail as a result of this. This is the deterrence effect."There isn't a clear outline stating what happens if a fine goes unpaid.Manchester's police chief referred to the new ordinance as just another tool in the department's toolbox, saying parks aren't living spaces."I'll be frank with you," said Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. "This has been a strain on this police department and this community as a whole for the last several years."On Wednesday morning, Manchester police were out clearing streets near a homeless shelter, as they have in the past. The police chief said the ordinance really won't change the way police operate."I don't want the public to think in any way that the police department is going to be, you know, 'stormtroopers,' if you will, and start clearing homeless people and arresting them," Aldenberg said. "That's not what this police department is going to be doing."He said the ordinance gives officers more flexibility. The mayor and aldermen also gave the department an extra $500,000 to deal with enforcement. The chief said the money will likely to be used to expand the police presence."So that people that want to come and sit in the park with their family on a nice day like today, and perhaps they'll see a police officer, and they'll feel more comfortable doing so," Aldenberg said.He said homeless people are still welcome in city parks, as long as they follow the rules."If they want to be in the parks as well and act appropriately and not drink there, not urinate there, not sleep there, then they're more than welcome to be there, as well," he said.Aldenberg said the priority is downtown Manchester, but he said if police get a call from a constituent or alderman about a homeless camp setting up somewhere else, they will go to that location.The mayor said he has put an 11-step plan into action to help unhoused people since he took office, including an expansion of resources to help homeless people get identification and bus passes, and expanding outreach efforts.