Chief admits police made mistakes at homeless camp

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Springfield police chief Paul Williams said a raid on a homeless camp last week could have been handled better.

Officers arrested 17 people while moving homeless people out of the camp in north Springfield. Williams said the raid came after complaints from neighbors about increased crime in the area.

Williams said Wednesday police should have alerted volunteers ahead of time to help those at the camp find places to stay. And he said police should have announced the raid ahead of time and gone into the camp during the day, rather than the evening.

The Springfield News-Leader reported Williams and other command staff were not aware of how the raid was going to be carried out before it happened.

Williams would not say if any officers were disciplined.