We demand an investigation on how Sacramento Police Department handles and investigates deaths of our unhoused neighbors.
SACRAMENTO, CA — At the end of 2022, a mass murderer was in our encampments. Approximately 12 people on Roseville Road died. Some were found deceased in trailers and some in shallow graves. They ended up sweeping everyone out, pushing them into Del Paso heights.
In 2023, six unhoused people were murdered outside Camp Resolution gates.
We called a meeting with the impact team of Sacramento PD and their sergeant. Many people came to us at the Union with information, but were terrified they would be harmed for speaking out.
I expressed the concerns of not only about the camp of primarily women but everyone else, and PD told me they couldn’t say anything nor take any information because it’s third-party. They were completely dismissive and rude until I told them I have a degree in criminal justice and who my professors were. When I also informed them that they must take statements and information on any pending investigation they changed their tune with me a bit but were still stand-offish to the residents in the camp who also met with them. I also expressed to them that some of the parties who messaged me had since been murdered. Not sure you can get first hand info!
There was no media coverage and it was swept under the rug! A predator was terrorizing and killing people, and because they were unhoused it apparently didn’t matter. It was even brought up at City Council while pictures of police laughing over a dismembered body were shared on the screen.
I’m sick and tired of everything pertaining to homelessness being swept under the rug as if they aren’t humans just like everyone else. Your roof status shouldn’t dictate how you are treated or how things are handled. Multiple murders in any neighborhood would make national news and would be investigated appropriately.
Last night I met with the family of one of our folks. They told us how the police department and homicide came out and ruled that our 65 year-old lady got ran over by her own car?? She was facing the wrong direction, and if that was the case, why was there blood inside her car? This was after she reported that she was fleeing after being victimized.
Crystal Sanchez is with the Sacramento Homeless Union.
