Some Phoenix parks have come under scrutiny for a large number of calls to the police, people using drugs in the open, and large numbers of homeless people gather there.
PHOENIX — The Phoenix City Council voted on Wednesday to move forward with a pilot program that would hire private security guards to patrol eight public city parks overnight.
The plan calls for security guards to take over from Phoenix park rangers, who work in the parks during the day, and make sure people aren’t camping or entering the parks after hours.
Some Phoenix parks have come under scrutiny for a large number of calls to the police, people using drugs in the open, and large numbers of homeless people gather there.
“It’s exhausting,” said Morgan Sailor. “The neighbors here are exhausted, they are exhausted from trying for two years and having no effect.”
Sailor lives in the area near Perry Park at 32nd Street and Thomas Road. Perry Park is one of the parks with the most police calls.
RELATED: Phoenix considers nighttime security at 8 parks to combat ‘trespassing’
Sailor said she is for any program that has a chance to help make the park a place where she feels comfortable.
“I really hope it has an impact,” she said.
At Wednesday’s city council meeting, however, council members were split on whether the city should contract out the work to private security.
Private security guards would have no enforcement powers. They can’t write citations or make arrests, they would have to call the police for that.
Park rangers, which the city already has, can issue trespassing citations. They also cannot make arrests.
But, park rangers are city employees, which makes them more expensive than security guards hired by a private company.
Some council members wondered if the city would be better served to wait and put more money and effort into building up the ranks of park rangers. Currently, there are 30 rangers in the city.
Other board members said they saw the program as an immediate solution to the problem that was better than doing nothing.
Council voted 5-4 to approve the pilot program at eight city parks.
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