Dallas police Friday reported 138 arrests in a crackdown on aggressive panhandling downtown.
The arrests came after neighborhood complaints about beggars who refused to take ‘no’ for an answer.
“You could not go a block, two blocks without either someone following you, chasing you, having interaction with you, sometimes almost abusive,” said downtown community leaders Tanya Ragan.
The so-called “Quality of Life Initiative” began February 1 with around half a dozen officers at a time working two eight-hour shifts between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Assistant Chief Gary Tittle said of those 138 arrests, 128 went to jail, 19 were repeat offenders and 33 had prior criminal history.
“We recognize that this is a concern. We’re listening to the concerns of our stakeholders in the downtown area and we are addressing that,” Tittle said.
Ragan said neighbors appreciate the work police have done.
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“And it’s been quite incredible the improvement that you’ve seen just in the past two weeks,” she said.
Using a slogan “Say No and Go,” Tittle asked people not to give panhandlers money. He urged people to donate instead to organizations that help get homeless people off the street.
The city of Dallas operates “The Bridge” homeless assistance center downtown.
CEO Jay Dunn said The Bridge helps around a thousand people a day get food, shelter and needed services to stay off the street.
“It’s risky for people in the crisis of homelessness and it’s difficult for other neighbors to know how to react and how to be helpful,” Dunn said. “So getting people here, getting people connected is just in everybody’s interest.”
Tittle said the panhandling crack down will wind down, but police will keep after the problem.
