New CHPD program seeks to address ‘low-level’ nuisance offenders

By Mike Hazlip—
Over the past year-and-a-half, Citrus Heights police have worked with city and county officials to develop a new program aimed at curbing low-level crimes that impact quality of life for residents.

In an email response to The Sentinel on Wednesday, Citrus Heights Police Chief Alex Turcotte clarified details of the Chronic Nuisance Offender Program, saying it doesn’t involve a new charge or arrest code, but rather is “an attempt to seek prosecution and/or mandated treatment for individuals in our community who repeatedly and consistently commit misdemeanor offenses.”

Offenses such as trespassing, illegal dumping, unlawful camping, possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia, and being under the influence of illegal drugs are viewed as “low level” by the criminal justice system, Turcotte noted. Although such crimes may pale compared to homicides or domestic violence, he said “nuisance and blight are highly visible and contribute a great deal toward our community’s feeling of safety and security” and merit focused attention by police.

“I can tell you from my experience consistently attending community meetings and dialoguing with community members that nuisance and blight tends to be one of their top concerns,” said Turcotte.

The new local program targets the most prolific misdemeanor offenders by preparing a nuisance case that can be prosecuted in court, the chief said. Charging offenders with repeat infractions helps authorities build a case that would otherwise be stalled in an overburdened higher court system, he said.

“Our Chronic Nuisance Offender Program is an effort to utilize innovation, creativity, and collaboration between our District Attorney and our City Attorney to hold people accountable for their actions while improving the overall quality of life for our community,” Turcotte said.

The department also works with navigators for the homeless and mental health advocates to offer mental health and addiction recovery programs to individuals. The programs are voluntary, Turcotte said.

The chronic nuisance program was implemented department-wide in June 2023, with Turcotte sharing that four new cases are currently being prepared for “possible prosecution,” and another case involving repeated complaints surrounding “a resident driving a race car” and associated noise that is currently in court.

A newly created booking officer position is also part of the strategy, the chief said. Booking officers focus on transporting suspects to jail or a medical facility, thus freeing patrol officers to respond to additional calls for service. Wait times at the county jail can exceed several hours, Turcotte said.

Turcotte said police staff have worked with the district attorney and city attorney to overcome obstacles in implementing the program.

“I am proud of our staff who have taken each challenge head on and are steadily moving toward a fully effective program,” Turcotte said.

Based on a similar “community prosecutor” program from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, Turcotte said the city’s program is more cost effective by partnering the city attorney’s office with the District Attorney. The chief said the program is “one tool” out of several programs created in the last year to address blight abatement and community beautification.

“We encourage our residents to continue to report any criminal behavior to CHPD,” Turcotte said. “While it may take several offenses, we will continue our efforts to bring accountability to offenders and balance the rights of all in our community to reasonably and peacefully enjoy our public spaces and remain secure in their private spaces.”