Yesterday, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) and Department of Public Works (DPW) teamed up to remove hazardous waste and rubbish from a homeless encampment situated beneath an overpass in unincorporated El Paso County, near Chamberlin South. The cleanup, which started at 8:00 a.m., was part of preparations for an imminent bridge inspection. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office contributed assistance through personnel from its Reserve Unit, under the guidance of Lieutenant Joshua Seiter.
As obtained by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Joseph Roybal expressed satisfaction with the operation's execution. "I am extremely pleased with the success of today's cleanup operation," Roybal remarked, thanking both the DPS for their work and the deputies for their contribution to the project. He emphasized the Office’s commitment to resolving issues of mental health, drug addiction, and homelessness while safeguarding property rights in the Pikes Peak region.
During the operation, DPW employees and heavy equipment operators expedited the cleanup process once the site was made secure. Before the operation, a notice to vacate was issued to the inhabitants of the encampment, which reportedly had no illegal trespassers present as the cleanup took place. The operation was characterized by the removal of enough refuse to fill the back of a dump truck, indicating a significant presence of debris in the area.
No significant disruptions were reported during the cleanup, and following the sweep, the site is now cleared for the scheduled bridge inspection to proceed unimpeded. It is a move that seems to underscore governmental coordination between municipal services with an eye toward public safety and infrastructure maintenance. The Sheriff's Office has reiterated its dual approach of community protection and social support in circumstances where these societal complexities tend to intersect.
