Long Beach Police Ramp Up Efforts to Clear Homeless Encampments

New misdemeanor citation aims to improve efficiency in addressing public safety and health concerns

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Long Beach Police Department has seen a significant increase in calls to address homeless encampments since a 2024 Supreme Court decision allowed for greater enforcement of local laws restricting camping in public spaces. In response, the department has partnered with the City Prosecutor's Office to create a new misdemeanor citation form to streamline the process and allow officers to focus more on emergency calls.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass gave local governments more leeway to enforce laws against public camping, leading to a rise in encampment clearances across the country. Long Beach's approach highlights the tensions between addressing homelessness through services and enforcement, as the city seeks to balance public safety and health concerns with compassionate outreach.

The details

According to Police Chief Wally Hebeish, the LBPD is now using a new misdemeanor citation as part of the city's interdepartmental strategy to clear homeless encampments in priority focus areas like parks, libraries, and beaches. The citations are intended to encourage individuals to transition to safer environments. Between the pre-decision period from January 2023 to June 2024, and the post-decision period from June 2024 to December 2025, Quality of Life calls for service increased from 663 to 1,309, while related arrests and misdemeanors rose from 8 to 270.

  • In August 2024, the city outlined how enhanced enforcement efforts would be integrated into the homeless response strategy.
  • In May 2025, the city provided an overview of its approach to services and enforcement, reporting over 2,000 encampment cleanups and 350 citations for camping or loitering.
  • In the next couple of months, the city will provide another update on increased enforcement to clear encampments and present an item to the City Council.

The players

Wally Hebeish

The Police Chief of the Long Beach Police Department.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California, who deployed the State Action for Facilitation on Encampments Task Force to address a persistent encampment in Long Beach.

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What they’re saying

“The Long Beach Police Department participates in the city's interdepartmental team, and the city's general approach to homelessness is to lead with compassion by connecting individuals to services aimed at resolving their housing needs. However, when officers encounter an encampment or individual who presents a public safety or public health risk, they may issue a citation as a means of encouraging the individual to transition to a safer environment or set of circumstances.”

— Wally Hebeish, Police Chief (City Memo)

“By reducing the time officers spend on paperwork, this resource will allow them to focus on emergency calls, ultimately improving overall efficiency and responsiveness within the community.”

— Wally Hebeish, Police Chief (City Memo)

What’s next

The city will provide another update on increased enforcement to clear encampments and present an item to the City Council in the next couple of months.

The takeaway

Long Beach's approach to addressing homelessness through a combination of outreach, services, and enforcement highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in balancing compassion and public safety concerns. The increased use of citations and encampment clearances reflects the impact of the Supreme Court's decision, but the city's efforts to streamline the process and maintain a focus on connecting individuals to housing and support services suggest a nuanced approach.