Editor's Note: Captain Tom O'Neal's name was spelled incorrectly in an early version of the story. This was fixed at 9:20 a.m.
Fort Bragg has significantly reduced arrests of homeless individuals, thanks to a compassionate and proactive approach that combines enforcement with outreach. The city’s Care Response Unit (CRU) has transformed how law enforcement interacts with its unhoused population, cutting homeless-related arrests by nearly two-thirds in just a few years.
The initiative, established during the pandemic, followed years of escalating homelessness-related incidents. In 2018 and 2019, more than half of the city’s arrests involved individuals experiencing homelessness. Complaints ranged from public camping and loitering to petty crimes like public intoxication and disturbances, prompting over 1,000 calls for service annually.
“We didn’t have the tools to address it effectively,” said Captain Tom O’Neal, who spearheaded the program. “These were minor crimes—misdemeanors—that didn’t warrant jail time but created significant strain on law enforcement.”
In response, O’Neal secured a $220,000 grant from the California Department of Health Care Services to set up the Care Response Unit, enabling the city to hire two dedicated CRU members. The team has since expanded to three members. The CRU team focuses on building relationships with homeless individuals, helping them access services, and addressing issues before they escalate.
By 2023, the first full year of CRU’s operation, the impact was clear. Homeless-related arrests dropped from 54% of total arrests in 2019 to 28%. In 2024, that figure fell further to just 17.8%, marking a dramatic shift for the community.
“Officers are no longer tied up with petty crimes and social issues,” said Police Chief Neil Cervenka.
Calls for service involving homeless individuals also declined—from 1,282 in 2022 to 1,116 in 2023, a 13% drop. CRU often resolves these calls without police intervention, further freeing officers for other duties.
Mayor Bernie Norvell, who collaborated with O’Neal to launch the program, emphasized the importance of relationship-building. “We’re proactive,” Norvell said. “We build trust until individuals ask us for help. Then we guide them every step of the way until they become productive members of society.”
Unlike traditional homeless outreach programs, CRU’s dual-response model integrates law enforcement and social services. CRU members often know the individuals by name, understand their history, and can address crises with minimal police involvement.
As other cities grapple with enforcing anti-camping ordinances amidst criticism of criminalizing homelessness, Fort Bragg’s approach offers a model for balancing public safety with compassion. The program’s success has drawn attention from other municipalities looking for solutions to similar challenges.
“This isn’t cheap, and it takes time and effort,” Norvell said. “But the results speak for themselves.”