As we’ve discussed many times, there’s not much Portsmouth Police can do about sidewalk sleepers other than suggest they go to the homeless shelter. If they don’t want to go or can’t stay there because of previous issues or criminal records, folks are left on the street.
At 1 am, an employee of the Post Office on Gay Street called the police to report a man was sleeping in the lobby. Officers told the man to move along.
However, just an hour later, the same man was spotted sleeping in the lobby of the main entrance to PNC Bank. Once again, officers told the man to move along.
Officers also dealt with a man who was behaving strangely near Tracy Park. They checked in on him around 8 am but determined he was well enough to be left alone.
Around 9:30 am, a witness reported a man in a red car tripping out near the park. They said the man asked him if they had seen his kid. Then the man said to forget about it. He said he had just remembered his wife had his kid.
Officers spoke with the same man they’d had contact with earlier. Once again, he was able to answer questions, so they decided he was okay.
Publisher’s Note:
The Portsmouth City Council had the framework for how to begin working to help the homeless issue. They decided to take no action and table the conversation. Last year, Councilperson Andy Cole of the 3rd Ward brought forward the notion of bussing the homeless to areas with better resources to help the people. The Council also dismissed that issue without further conversation.
