Clovis PD cite excessive calls for service at Butterfly Gardens

CLOVIS, Calif (FOX26) — The first homeless housing development in Clovis is adding to the workload for the Clovis Police force.

Butterfly Gardens is a 75-unit supportive housing development. Since the ribbon-cutting ceremony last December, Clovis Police officers have made 191 calls for service there in just six months.

"Yes when you look at the numbers it's obviously excessive for us to be going someplace that often," said Lt. Jim Koch, a spokesman for Clovis Police.

Jessica Hoff-Berzac is president of Upholdings, the company that owns Butterfly Gardens. "A lot of the calls are just lack of education. People call the wrong number essentially cause they've never had resources."

Hoff-Berzac says one tenant called 911 nine times in one month but the calls were non-emergencies.

We've been really transparent with the city as we are with all of our partners the first year is challenging," said Hoff-Berzac.

"When you have that many calls in one location it does cause concern and always we want to provide service to everybody in the city so that's why again we have met with them and talked with them and tried to come up with solutions to help us," said Lt. Koch.

Neighbors who live close to Butterfly Gardens say it has changed the neighborhood. While they wouldn't talk to FOX26 News on camera, they did say they've seen a bump in crime and a number of homeless people.

Hoff-Berzac counters people living in Butterfly Gardens are members of the Clovis community. "It's our job to now help integrate. To help be good neighbors, to help tenants be good neighbors and that is a process."

Lt. Koch says Clovis P.D. is working with management at Butterfly Gardens weekly to find solutions to reduce calls for service.