DENVER, Colo. -- There were quite a few Denver Police officers in Confluence Park Wednesday morning.
Officers were there clearing out homeless people they say were sleeping at the park, which is in violation of park curfew laws.
Robert Hudson with Denver Homeless Out Loud, an advocate group for the homeless, was also there filming with his cell phone as police arrived
“We got in trouble for sitting in a public space over here, there were over 20 cops and several people have gotten tickets including myself," said Hudson.
Denver Police say they received a lot of complaints from concerned residents in the area and that's why they increased enforcement at the park.
“This was to help with the community complaints of all of the unsafe living conditions down around the river,” said Officer Ligeia Craven
36 people were cited for violating park curfew times.
Homeless advocates argue the northwest corner of 15th Street and Little Raven Street is not part of the park.
They don't believe the citations were warranted.
“I feel like it was way overkill, people were just sleeping,” said Hudson.
Police say while homeless sleeping in parks may seem harmless, the issue of parks filling up with the homeless becomes more of a safety issue.
While clearing out the park, police offered resources for the homeless, but say many refused to take it.
Homeless advocates say there about 5,500 homeless people who live in Denver and only five shelters available.
