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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    LAPD's new program to police the homeless with empathy

    Police in LA have often been criticized for their approach to the homeless - rousting them, throwing away their belongings and arresting them for minor offenses. Now the city has a new strategy for policing the homeless. It’s based on compassion. A new team of police officers are acting more like social workers than cops.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Sep 23, 2016 • 1 min read

    Police in LA have often been criticized for their approach to the homeless - rousting them, throwing away their belongings and arresting them for minor offenses. Now the city has a new strategy for policing the homeless. It’s based on compassion. A new team of police officers are acting more like social workers than cops.

    LAPD Officer Josh Fillinger and an LAPD mental health specialist look inside a homeless encampment. (Photo: Anna Scott)

    The full episode

    5 of 5
    Is there a better way to do presidential debates?
    1. 0:31Make presidential debates great again
    2. 9:18How Pepe the Frog was co-opted by the alt-right
    3. 18:14Movie roundup: 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Storks'
    4. 30:22Pop-Punk pioneer Bob Mould
    5. 45:14LAPD's new program to police the homeless with empathyYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

      News

    The full episode

    5 of 5
    Is there a better way to do presidential debates?
    1. 0:31Make presidential debates great again
    2. 9:18How Pepe the Frog was co-opted by the alt-right
    3. 18:14Movie roundup: 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Storks'
    4. 30:22Pop-Punk pioneer Bob Mould
    5. 45:14LAPD's new program to police the homeless with empathyYou’re reading this
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand