Sam Dotson faced an unusual challenge five years ago, when he became the head of the Amtrak Police Department (APD), the U.S. government-owned national passenger rail system’s law enforcement agency.
The department, containing 431 officers under his command who maintain the security of railroad stations, facilities, passengers and tracks in 46 states, is headquartered at Washington DC’s Union Station, an area that is occupied by homeless people looking for a safe environment and to get away from extreme weather.
While this encampment around the station has not led to a significant increase in criminal activity, there were many complaints from passengers and station business owners, as well as some incidents that justified police intervention. In addition, the tragic loss of human potential was prevalent in this population, as were narcotic substances abuse, mental illness and human trafficking.
As published by the same official website of the U.S. police, suppressing homeless people, dismantling their camps or providing temporary shelter at night would not solve the problems that create their situation or lead to long-term improvements.
Dotson also realised that reducing homelessness requires a community-wide effort that must include housing authorities, health care providers and other stakeholders, as well as law enforcement, which he notes has become the first line of defence in addressing homelessness issues, despite not having social services with the necessary capabilities to respond effectively to the problems of these people.
To tackle the root of the problem and to help get as many people back on their feet, employed and housed as they should be, Dotson partnered the police with a crisis intervention group called the h3 Project.
Founded by Dr. Ami M. Angell to address homelessness and human trafficking in Washington DC, and its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, h3, which stands for Home, Health, Happiness, has succeeded in helping many people reclaim their lives.
On its website, h3 notes that in 2022, its volunteers found housing for 58 people, reunited 59 with their families, and provided vital documents and essentials for hundreds of others, while training 326 community members and law enforcement personnel to respond to drug abuse.
According to Dotson, the department saw a reduction in crime, fewer calls for service and less of a burden on police and city services. The department backs this up with data indicating that reported incidents of disorderly conduct dropped from 133 in 2017 to 70 in 2023, and all crimes went from 785 to 430 in that time period.
APD is an all-encompassing police department with patrol, criminal investigations and other divisions. In addition, all officers are trained in Integrating Communications Assessment and Tactics (ICAT), enabling them to work on a range of incidents successfully and safely.
Officers are ready to recognise the challenges they face, whether it is a medical or mental health issue. And they also know when to ask h3 to enter the scene and whether to stay with them to ensure their safety.
They also pass on information to other agencies and groups in nearby cities in Virginia or Maryland. In doing so, they helped people who were treated and got lost due to dementia or disappeared for other reasons.
They have been able to reunite many people with their family. And when new people show up, if they don’t have medication, they can usually get it back fairly quickly.
Finally, they are trying to develop a similar program in New York, at Penn Station/Moynihan Train Hall, with another supplier, and have good relationships with the NYPD (New York City Police Department). They want to do everything they can to help other police departments achieve better results and improve the lives of everyone: passengers, people who pass through or work at the stations, etc.
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