Homeless are a big reason for 911 emergency calls to the Manteca Police Department.

The homeless-related calls primarily deal with the need for medical aid, fires, and assaults.

Manteca Police  — from Jan, 1, 2022, to July 15, 2023 — had 2,177 transient-related calls for service.

That’s up from 1,143 during a 12-month period in 2021. 

The number includes 911 calls and non-emergency calls that mention homeless or transient

 The volume of specifically 911 emergency calls involving the homeless increased 23.5 percent over the past two years, according to Manteca Police Chief Stephen Schluer.

Based on point in time counts conducted every two years in January, the homeless population in Manteca has decreased by 89 people. 

The number of unhoused individuals in Manteca in January 2022 was 129 while the number of unhoused individuals in Manteca in January 2020 was 218.

The next homeless count takes place this January.

 Manteca Fire in 2021  responded to 878 calls involving homeless individuals out of the 10,230 they handled. That is roughly 9 percent of all calls.

Emergency calls linked to fire, however, have gone down in recent years. 

 “Three years ago, we averaged about 10 percent of our calls being directly related to a homeless person; in 2023, to date, we are averaging 3-5 percent,” Manteca Fire Chief Dave Marques said.

 One reason for this decrease in calls to the Fire Department involving the homeless is that calls involving warming fires used to go to the Fire Department. Currently, warming fire  calls go to the Police Department.
Some calls involving the homeless can tie up fire, police, and ambulance personnel for hours.

Such was the case of a homeless man back in January tied up Manteca police, firefighters and emergency  medical technicians as well PG&E crews for more than three hours.

He also cost the owner of the Sinclair gas station in the 1000 block of East Yosemite east of Powers Avenue more than three hours of business.

The man — who was trespassing — refused to come down from the roof of the convenience store.

While it might have been novel to onlookers that snapped photos with smartphones behind police tape as well as those that had pulled out folding chairs to watch the situation unfold, it was old hat for first responders.

Such incidents happen throughout the year.

Retired police chief Charlie Halford who now serves as a councilman, has noted homeless on roofs was an issue back in the 1970s when he first started with the department.

Assuming such calls don’t turn out to be individuals trying to break into stores as has happened in the past, there are a number of reasons why a homeless person — or anyone for that matter who is not authorized to be there — is a public safety and law enforcement concern.

Such concerns include:

*Individuals falling off of the roof whether they are sober, under the influence or have mental issues.

*Theft of electricity and other items on the roof.

*Property damage including urinating repeatedly on roofs.

*Illegal trespassing on private property.

Among past incidents include:

*When Kmart was located on West Yosemite Avenue, several homeless had taken up extended residence on the roof. They had tapped into power lines and had a small TV, space heater and other electric items as well as camping items and folding chairs.

*During one cold winter, the homeless repeatedly were sleeping on the roof of the library near heating system vents to stay warm. They caused damage primarily be repeatedly urinating on the roof.

*Copper and other recyclable items such as aluminum being stolen from rooftop air conditioning units and other mechanical devices.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com