We Paid For It: OKC Police Response To Homeless

News 9 told you earlier this week about the estimated cost of arresting homeless people.

We broke it down with just one man, which cost the city of Oklahoma City and us taxpayers around $70,000 in police manpower and resources. 

2/10/2015 Related Story: OKC Police On Mission To Help Homeless

In August of last year, the Oklahoma City Police Department put together a special team to deal with the homeless, called the Homeless Outreach Team or HOT.

From August 2014 to January 2015, the team made 354 contacts with panhandlers, costing them 88.5 in manpower hours or around $13,275. Police made 98 arrests during this same time, resulting in approximately 196 hours or $29,400. And finally, police provided five hours of enforcement. That cost the city just over an hour and about $187.50.

These numbers are not scientific, just based on the police department's estimated cost of $150 per hour for police manpower, resources and benefits.