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Student Files Lawsuit Against City of Tampa: Crisis Response Takes a Turn for the Worse
By BRIANNA KWASNIK News Writer
Jason Turk, 37, a Navy veteran and UT senior double majoring in government and world affairs and philosophy, filed a lawsuit on Aug. 12 against the city of Tampa and Officer Timothy Bergman. Turk was shot twice in the face in the driveway of his home on Peninsular Street where police found Turk sitting in
his car after they responded to a call about a potential suicide. Due to the fact that the lawsuit is still pending, Turk has been advised by his attorney not to comment. The lawsuit claims that the police neglected to send officers who had received proper crisis intervention training. The suit also accuses Officer Bergman of using excessive force to handle the situation.
“Members of TPD approach[ed] his vehicle and rather than treat him as a mentally distressed individual who has committed no crimes while possessing a firearm he is licensed to have, instead engag[ed] him as if he is a criminal in possession of the firearm,” the lawsuit filed by Jason Turk stated. The incident occurred after midnight on Jan. 9. Amanda Turk, Jason’s estranged
wife, called the Tampa Police Department to express concern about her husband’s immediate safety, stating he was possibly suicidal, according to a letter from the State Attorney’s Office. Earlier in the evening, over a phone call, Turk had reportedly told her that he couldn’t live anymore and was To TURK Page 4
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Casey Budd/The Minaret
Hundreds of the homeless population in Tampa is in distress over new city ordinances that prevents them from sleeping in public.
City of Tampa Lacks Viable Resources for Homeless Population By THERESA STANTON News Writer
Guy and Anthony, two homeless men, sat under a tree on a wooden bench to escape the scorching Florida heat last week. Sweat trickled down Anthony’s tan, sunken cheeks, passed his shaggy white beard and splattered onto the white skull on his black shirt. Guy pursed his lips as several people passed, as if he was holding back a question that he wanted to ask for a while. A third man named Amilo approached them on a green bike, and they began to talk. None of them had bags or asked for money like other homeless people you might encounter. Each morning before the lights come on, these men and many other homeless people have to find a safe place to stay for the day. There are 2,243 homeless men, women, and children just in Tampa alone who are forced to find shelter on the streets, according to the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County. On July 18, 2013, Tampa placed further
restrictions on panhandling and asking drivers for money in downtown and Ybor City. The only exception to the ban are those selling newspapers and waters at intersections. “The city doesn’t help us, but the churches do,” Guy said. Unable to ask for money, many have to rely on the Metropolitan Ministries for food. On Sundays, the organization gathers to serve thousands of the homeless. Another church involved in helping the homeless is Sacred Heart. Its ministry the “Hands of Hope” partners with another local church to hand out meals every Saturday. The homeless are sometimes given five free evenings to stay at a shelter, along with vouchers. For those struggling to pay bills, the St. Vincent Paul ministry helps raise money to keep them off the streets. Friar Frank Critch describes the purpose of the church. “Pope Francis called for the Church to be a Church of the poor for the poor and we are answering this call within the
community,” said Critch. Tampa’s panhandling restrictions resulted in 281 arrests, according to a Tampa Police Department official who addressed the City Council in January. In addition, the ordinance prohibits storing property, urinating, and sleeping in public. Due to this law, many homeless people have to sleep behind buildings, under highway bridges, and in abandoned buildings if they can’t find a shelter with room. If caught sleeping in a public area a homeless person is given an order for trespassing and can end up in jail. If they can’t afford to stay in a shelter or find somewhere to stay hidden, it leaves many with no choice but to go to jail. Norma Winston, a sociology professor at UT who has studied and worked with Tampa’s homeless community, said, “I understand why cities like Tampa do it. It looks bad when people come into the city and see homeless To HOMELESS Page 2