ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In 2019, the St. Petersburg Police Department launched the PATH Unit, which stands for Police Assisting the Homeless. The goal is to create relationships with people in our community who are living on the streets and help get them the support and services they need.
In May of 2021, the department partnered with BayCare to expand the program. Now, a registered nurse goes out with officers once a week to help the homeless with medical needs.
What You Need To Know
- SPPD launched PATH Unit to help homeless in 2019
- Last year, they partnered with BayCare to add a registered nurse to the team
- David Hill, an RN from St. Anthony’s Hospital, goes out with officers weekly to help the homeless
David Hill is a registered nurse at St. Anthony’s Hospital. He’s been working in the medical field since the 1990s.
“I went into the Navy as a medic. So once I got out of the military, I stayed with something that I knew and that was nursing,” said Hill.
He says it’s a rewarding job. He enjoys building relationships with patients in the hospital. Now he’s doing that out in the community by going out with Officer Richard Targaszewski every Tuesday to offer medical assistance and advice to the homeless.
“The individuals that I come across while I’m out here doing this, they’ve gotten to the point where they know me, they know me by name. They come up and they respect me. They’re like, ‘David I need so and so.’ And I say, ‘Okay, let me see can I get that for you.’ And that’s what’s rewarding, being able to give back,” said Hill.
In 2019 the St.Petersburg Police Dept launched the PATH Unit, focused on helping the homeless. Last year in May they partnered with BayCare to add a registered nurse to the team. David Hill goes around with Officer Richard Targaszewksi to offer medical care to the homeless @BN9 pic.twitter.com/T0Qpx8YfbV
— Jorja Roman (@JorjaRoman) January 25, 2022
Officer Targaszewski has been part of the PATH Unit since 2019 when it launched. He says bringing David around to check on the homeless has been a positive experience for everyone involved.
“Everybody usually converges on the parks that we check and they’re very happy to see David so it’s a good thing,” said Targaszewski. “He’s a great guy. He’s been working for St. Anthony’s for quite some time so he knows what he’s doing.”
Hill checks people’s blood pressure, answers questions and gives advice. The partnership helps keep some people from having to go to the emergency room. Hill is able to help them with immediate needs and suggest next steps in getting better. We spoke with one woman who he’s been helping weekly.
“He’s a big help and he’s always very pleasant and very nice and so I’m always glad to see him,” said Laury Sears.