“I Was a California Cop” by Rick Campbell
Homeless camp in Oakland, CA, Author NeoBatfreak (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
The following is excerpted from an article in Newsweek titled “I Was a California Cop, Words Can’t Describe the Horrors I Saw” by Rick Campbell. The full article, dated 6/9/23, can be found at: https://www.newsweek.com/california-cop-homeless-crime-drugs-police-1805273.
Please, pray for those lost in addiction, and the law enforcement officers tasked to deal with this extremely difficult situation.
“I was a cop in Oceanside, California for over a decade. It’s a town of around 170,000 people in north San Diego county and I’ve lived here for my entire life…
In 2000, California voters approved The Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, which mandated that courts offer a drug treatment program to people arrested for felony drug possession of drugs including meth, heroin and cocaine.
Offenders who chose treatment over prison were enrolled in drug court—a specialized court docket program aimed at criminal defendants convicted of a drug offense—which I feel was actually pretty effective.
Those who chose prison instead of treatment were usually out in six months with good behavior, while arrested narcotics dealers often had their dealing charges reduced to simple possession and were offered drug court.
Thanks to this new act…the percentage of simple drug possession offenders in prison in California was pretty low at the time.
Essentially, there was nobody wasting away in prison for a first-time drug offense. However, I often arrested the same person for possession of meth multiple times, and they were offered drug court every time.
Quite a few people chose prison instead of drug court. They loved meth more than anything, and for them, six months inside wasn’t a big deal—they could still obtain drugs while incarcerated…”
“In 2014, voters approved The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, which reduced all non-violent felony drug possession charges to misdemeanors. The new act also raised the amount thieves could steal before it was a felony from $400 to $950, and got rid of the felony charge for serial petty thieves.
Safe? I found that ironic.
We were told by advocates of the new legislation that there were hoards of people locked away forever, for simply having drugs or stealing a lollipop.
Prior to this legislation, if a serial thief had been found guilty three times and served one day in jail for each of those arrests, then they could finally be charged with a felony on the fourth arrest.
That bar was so high that I rarely arrested someone who qualified; maybe three times in 11 years.
So, contrary to what these advocates told us, there wasn’t anybody languishing in prison unless they were an extremely prolific thief. Drug users and theft of all kinds go together; not only did we make it easier to use meth, I believe we made it much safer for users to steal.
In California, the majority of misdemeanor offenses require the arresting officer to ‘cite and release’ the arrested person. So whether it’s heroin, meth, or cocaine, after this legislation, we’d say: ‘Here’s your ticket buddy, have a nice day.’
Before this new law, drug addicts in California—who are now often seen in public living in tents—used to get arrested and be gone for six months. It was rinse and repeat, with those who chose prison often being out for a very short time before going back.
They could opt for treatment at any time but chose not to. They were not living in tents, perpetually, with no fear of repercussions, as they do now.
I continually read in our media that all of the homeless camps we see in California now are due to high housing costs. I do not agree with that. I spent years working 12-and-a-half-hour shifts, day after day, interacting with the homeless in Oceanside…
This is my conclusion—lack of affordable housing is a problem, but it’s not why we have such a huge increase in homeless camps and mentally ill people in California. I believe we have a massive drug addiction crisis, and no longer any tools to force anybody to change.
We also have a huge mental health crisis and no tools to force them into treatment. Meth use and mental illness are peas in a pod. So many of the people I took in for mental health holds—a 5150—told me their mental health deteriorated when they started using the drug.
I’ve had parents sobbing, pleading with me, to commit their mentally ill homeless adult children on a 5150 hold, and all I could tell them was: ‘I’m sorry, but because of the insane criteria we have, I’d be violating your kid’s civil rights, and I can’t risk losing everything I own by doing that.’
People I legitimately placed on 5150 holds were almost always released from the hospital after a few hours, a day at the most. I would literally watch these mentally ill people die on the streets.
There aren’t words to describe the horrors I saw. And yet, in my opinion, civil rights advocates continue to stand in the way of reform…
Our hillsides have been plagued with environmental destruction from human waste and trash, and violence perpetrated by the inhabitants of the camps on each other.
We are building more affordable housing and treatment centers—great, it’s very much needed.
But in my view, they will not make a noticeable difference in our current situation, because most of the people in those tents have what they want in life—cheap, easy access to meth, and freedom…”
“But these two things shall come to you
In a moment, in one day:
The loss of children, and widowhood.
They shall come upon you in their fullness
Because of the multitude of your sorceries,
For the great abundance of your enchantments” (Isa. 47: 9).
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://www.avoicereclaimed.com
A Lawyer's Prayers 
I’m sure this occurs in just about all states but Calif. is satan’s playground and they prove it more and more every day. What a shame.
I agree, Sue. Terribly sad.
A lovely Christian woman in our retirement village lost her son (in his fifties) recently. He chose to die under a bridge here in our city, of pneumonia. Sadly he had struggled with drugs all his life, despite many opportunities to get help. Our hearts bled for her. She’s trying to make a difference in her grandson’s life, who is choosing a better way. I said to my wife, ‘It must be terrible to be a drug addict or be related to one.’ God have mercy. Thanks for this vivid report, Anna.
My heart just breaks, Erroll.
Thank you for sharing Anna,
Vermont also uses the same drug court and little reprimand for theft..
Then people complain about widespread drug use and crime..
I believe states should enact a law that allows family members to have their addicted loved ones held in a treatment facility because they are a danger to themselves.. It is slow suicide and they are not in their right mind.
Christian drug and alcohol treatment facilities have a 97% recovery rate..
Yet Medicaid will not cover the cost for a religious organization..
Your comment is very insightful, Mary. But the world has gone insane.
It’s heartbreaking to watch some of our great cities deteriorate. As the encampments grow, is it possible some of them will be completely destroyed? Where will the homeless go then? And I wonder if the powers-that-be have considered what life will be like in their gated enclaves and mansions when there’s nothing but ruin around them? Not much of a view.
Well said, Nancy.
sehr traurig, aber es gibt wenige ansätze, das zu ändern.
Du hast so recht, Marie.
If you talk with a lot of homeless drug addicts they will tell you they got hooked on prescription drugs which are very addictive.
Here in Canada over 100,000 doctors recently quit because the government is forcing them to prescribe addictive drugs rather than council them on how to live a better life style.
I believe most drug addictions are because of big pharma mafia.
Being a natural path for over forty years I can say almost all diseases are treated more effectively with Gods medicine (herbs) than pharmaceuticals .
When I first came home to be a live in care giver for my mom she was taking a handful of drugs in the morning and at night. She was a mess. Now, she is off of all of those drugs and in much better health.
If you want to deal with drug addiction (and by extension homelessness) start by having them live a healthy lifestyle. I have personally seen it om both sides of the coin too many times to count
Make some very valid points. Your care and concern for your mother undoubtedly improved the quality of her life. How though is a healthy lifestyle to be enforced on the unwilling and uninterested?
Exactly
I volunteered in soup kitchens in various cities in British Columbia in the 90’s.
Almost all of the addicts would go right back to being pigs wallowing in the mud in less than a week out of detox.
I was shocked and confused so would ask them why they went back
They would sneer and me and laugh as they told me: ” I go back because I want to.”
It might sound cruel but I say leave them to their poison and find those that are willing to be helped. Oh, and cut them off of welfare while you are at it.
In British Columbia welfare week was known as three day millionaires because they spent all of their money on booze and drugs. Then, they would cry baby because they were so hard done by
When I was a kid ( growing up in a farming community ) during the planting and harvesting season they were made to get on buses and work on the farms. We did not have the problems then like we do now.
Addiction is destructive to the addict, and deeply wounding to the friends and relations who care for him or her. Despite the harsh tone you take, I am sure you did not mean to suggest that addicts are worthless human beings. As Christians, we know that God loves them still. He wants a better life for them than the one they have chosen (or become entangled in) for whatever combination of reasons.
I was not being harsh but if someone choses that lifestyle we are to move on to those who need it.
I just learned what throwing your pearls to the swine means and this is applicable to it
What it means is not to waste your resources on those who do not appreciate it nor want it.
I have seen it on both side of the coin.
Many I know became addicted threw prescription drugs and it was hell for everybody to get them off of them
Then there are the ones that choose to live that lifestyle and you get so frustrated trying to help them when they do not want it.
One day while taking a patient to detox he told me something I will never forget: be careful because we are all one step from the gutter. ( that could be booze or drugs or anything else). It is scary because it is true
When living in a hobo village in San Diego a man who befriended me took me to a bum encampment ( they taught me that hobo’s are those who move from town to town for work, which means I was one when tree planting. Bums are those who refuse to work and depend on handouts. ). He told me all the ones living there were ex lawyers, doctors and other professionals that let the “good life” destroy them. Many tried to help them but they all refused.
I saw the same two things when working as a volunteer in a soup kitchen in Vancouver. British Columbia, Victoria British Columbia, Nanaimo British Columbia, Prince George British Columbia and Fort St. John British Columbia on the off season when I was a tree planter.
What was said as to throwing your pearls to pigs was not meant to be derogatory but in reference to what Jesus taught.
You bring a great deal of experience to the table.
Thank you.
It was sure a eye opening experience that changed my way of looking at others.
I have found those that society thinks are weird the best men and women, the hobo’s the ones living off of the grid, the homesteader. They live a simple life and are always ready to help others.