Chambersburg Police open new substation in ‘high-risk’ area
Photo by Ryan Blackwell, Public Opinion
Police Chief David Arnold, left, Corpl. Shane Good and Mayor Darren Brown at the Chambersburg Police Community Substation is located at 41 West Washington Street. Pictured on Thursday, July 9, 2015.
(Chambersburg) — An apartment-type building is the new home to the Chambersburg Police Substation, which held its ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon. Chambersburg Police Chief Dave Arnold, Mayor Darren Brown and a slew of officers and community members came out of the event, to introduce the substation, at 41 West Washington Street, to the community.
“Our hope is to meet people from the community here,” Arnold said. Brown chimed in saying there is a living room type area that he hopes will make people feel comfortable when they need to speak with officers.
Arnold explained that the substation will have patrol officers there at various hours and will have a sign indicating when officers are available. Although there won’t be officers there all the time, should someone have reason to go to the substation outside of regular hours, the person could call dispatch and ask to meet someone at the station.
Brown said there is a back entrance to the building that he believes is less visible for those concerned with being seen going to police.
“Nobody has to know who gave information,” Brown said. “People can feel safe. We welcome anybody from the public.”
Arnold said they looked at a couple spots in the area because it is “where they’re having issues.”
Brown called the area high-risk, but felt it was also a good central area to assist in community involvement.
Chambersburg Corporal Shane Good, who has been with the department for 12 years, said he is very familiar with the area and knows many people in the neighborhood.
“This is a place where we’ll be able to talk to the community. Where they can tell us what’s going on,” Good said. “This is right the heart of it, without question.”
The building has some fresh paint, donated furniture and many other improvements to be seen in the future. Arnold said they are kicking around ideas of what technology to put in the building and of other things they can do to improve the building.
Arnold and Good also spoke briefly about how they hope the location brings their presence to the community, and hope that they will be able to work with local businesses and the local Hispanic community on events.
“We just want to bring the community closer,” Good said.
Staff writer Becky Metrick can be reached at 717-262-4762
This article comes to us through a partnership between Public Opinion Online and WITF.
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