Petaluma police remove homeless encampment

Petaluma Police on Thursday led a cleanup of a homeless encampment along the Petaluma River.

Local business owner, Tight Access Excavation, provided access to the abatement site, according to a press release.

A combined effort of 27 people from the Sonoma County Water Agency, the Conservation Corps, and volunteers from the Mary Isaak Center worked with the Petaluma Police Department HOST officers to take down and remove a 100-square-foot structure and approximately 40 cubic yards of waste from the illegal encampment.

Also located were numerous hypodermic needles along with narcotics hidden inside the encampment, police said. Outreach services workers from the Mary Isaak Center were on scene to liaise with any camp occupants. No occupants were on scene at the time of abatement.

The camp had been previously visited and posted in the days leading up to the abatement.

The Petaluma Police Department encourages residents to report illegal encampments to HOST Officers Ryan DeBaeke and Zilverio Rivera, 778-4455, Rdebaeke@ci.petaluma.ca.us, Zrivera@ci.petaluma.ca.us

Funding for the operation was provided through a grant from CalRecycle.