Stevens Point Volunteers Join Police for Cleanup Campaign

When Stevens Point Police Chief Ed Orgon challenged residents to see homelessness challenges firsthand, the community showed up ready to work.

Volunteers including City Council President Marc Christianson and nonprofit leader Gregg Hansel recently joined police officers for cleanup efforts on the city's south and west sides. The work tackles some of the trash and maintenance issues that police had been handling alone while responding to business and resident complaints.

"We really appreciate those folks who are stepping up," Orgon said. "It's going to take the entire community working together on issues like this."

The volunteer effort grew from a heated July meeting where residents and officials debated proposed ordinances about people living in vehicles. Several speakers worried the proposals criminalized homelessness, questioning why police needed new enforcement tools when existing ordinances already addressed littering and abandoned vehicles.

Orgon responded by describing the daily reality officers face: repeated business complaints, ongoing cleanup challenges, and complex situations most residents never see. He invited critics to spend time with officers and witness the problem themselves.

"You think it's so easy? Come on. The door's always open," he told the committee.

The Ripple Effect

The cleanup volunteers represent just one part of a broader community approach taking shape in Stevens Point. Police have been working to connect people experiencing homelessness with family members and support services rather than relying solely on enforcement.

The department has already helped six people reunite with family in Arizona, Arkansas, La Crosse, Milwaukee, and soon North Dakota. These reconnections offer people a path forward while addressing community concerns about public spaces.

The volunteer cleanup marks a turning point where residents moved from debating policy to taking direct action. By working alongside Community Service Officers, volunteers gained perspective on the challenges while contributing real solutions.

Christianson's participation as Council President sends a powerful message that city leaders are willing to do the hands-on work, not just discuss problems in meetings. Partnership with Partnering Together Portage County brings nonprofit expertise and community connections to the effort.

The model emerging in Stevens Point shows how communities can address complex social issues without resorting to punishment alone. When residents, police, and nonprofits collaborate on both immediate needs like cleanup and longer-term solutions like family reunification, everyone benefits.

What started as a tense debate has become a working partnership proving that sometimes the best response to criticism is an open door and an invitation to help.