Palm Springs police docks “Mobile Command Unit” at Sunrise Park

According to the city, the Palm Springs police department parked a “Mobile Command Unit” at Sunrise Park in response to complaints from non-profit agencies.

Palm Springs Boys and Girls Club is one of the neighboring non-profit agencies. The Executive Director, Margaret Keung has seen the drastic changes since the arrival of the command unit.

She says, “We noticed it right away as soon as the unit was out there I think on Tuesday… Wednesday we let our kids out, and they played in the playground for the first time in years…”

The command unit is staffed by officers observing the activity via cameras that are mounted on the RV. Palm Springs Police Department tells News Channel 3 the enforcement is focused on health and safety violations in attempt to make the park a safer place for kids and their families.

Although homeless do circle around the park, Keung explains the homeless were not the ones she was concerned about.

“I would say the transients and the drug users made it impossible for us to co-exist with this particular group,” said Keung.

Following the changes to the park, Joseph Sanchez, a homeless man, enjoys the park as a place to relax. He says its empty due the law enforcement activity but would now bring his family to the park since the changes.

He says, ” The park is for the children that’s what parks are for the children that come in and relax and play and not worry about anything. ”

The mobile command unit will remain at Sunrise Park for as long as the city decides otherwise.