Jan 15, 2025, 9:06 AM CST
Eau Claire officials are asking for input from State Attorney General Josh Kaul regarding unhoused individuals being transported to the area.
On Tuesday, a joint letter by Eau Claire County Corporation Counsel Sharon Mcilquham and Eau Claire City Attorney Steve Nick was sent to Attorney General Kaul. The letter claims that law enforcement officers from neighboring municipalities have been transporting unhoused individuals to the area. It also claims that those unhoused individuals are being dropped off without a receiving facility, without probable cause, and potentially without the lawful authority to do so.
The letter outlines three examples of the alleged instances in October and November. They accuse law enforcement authorities from St. Croix County, Menomonie, and Durand of bringing known unhoused individuals to the city. Local authorities were later forced to respond to incidents involving the unhoused individuals.
In each example, officials noted that the unhoused individual involved had not been criminally charged for any illegal conduct and had not requested to be taken to Eau Claire. Two of the individuals were dropped off at local shelters that were either not open or full. The third was dropped off at a Kwik Trip gas station.
City and County officials are asking Attorney General Kaul for input on the legality of this ongoing process. The letter asks if Wisconsin law enforcement officers have the legal authority to make the custodial transports outside of their jurisdiction, which municipality is financially responsible for the cost of services for these unhoused individuals, and what the best law enforcement practice related to the transports would be.
Chief Matt Rokus of the Eau Claire Police Department also shared a statement on the transports. “The practice of transporting people experiencing homelessness to Eau Claire, absent a warm hand-off to services, is harmful and not in the best interest of the person facing hardship,” he said. “Oftentimes these individuals commit crimes immediately after arriving, which victimizes Eau Claire residents. Our Police Officers have been injured when the transported person becomes resitive and combative. We are seeking an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office on the appropriateness of this troubling practice.”
Over the past year, the unhoused population in the Chippewa Valley has grown dramatically. The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced the launch of a new task force to solve persistent housing issues. The City Council also passed an advisory resolution asking for more state and federal aid to address them.
Local and state-level officials have also proposed ideas like a street ambassador program and limits on short-term rental properties to provided immediate support to the unhoused population, while pursuing long-term goals like increasing the housing stock in the region.
