POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Some officers are on a different type of beat—especially since temperatures are below freezing. 

“Right now, we're trying to assist people to get into shelters that need it," said Officer Karen Zirbel, City of Poughkeepsie Police Department. "It's been nice to go out and have people look at us in a different point of view. We're going out to more to assist people and offer them services." 

The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department partnered with the Dutchess County Department of Community and Behavioral Health earlier this year to launch the Behavioral Evaluation Action Team, or BEAT.

Officers and clinicians go out into the community to get people into care and shelter. The officers say there is a lot of need.

"There is a huge homeless population in the City of Poughkeepsie," said Sgt. Bryan Cronk, a patrol supervisor with the department. "They definitely need shelter. If they aren't finding it illegally in abandoned buildings, then they're needing help or transport assisting them to get to the check-in point for shelters."  

The officers travel the streets of the city looking for those in need, and respond to tips or requests from citizens. Then they will offer to take the person to a shelter or the recently opened Dutchess County Stabilization Center. It's a place where people dealing with substance abuse or mental health issues can find help as well as stay warm.

But getting people to take the help can be a challenge, they say. 

"On the nights that they really need to get inside, they're more willing to accept our help," said Sgt. Cronk.