SB Substations to close
SAN BERNARDINO -- This year's budget cuts will soon hit home for the Police Department employees and residents who made use of the substations that have given cops a physical presence around the city.
Lt. Scott Paterson, the department's spokesman, said all six community substations are on schedule to be closed doors by Oct. 1.
That's the same day that police commanders expect to work under a reorganized structure that increases the number of patrol beats and replaces the neighborhood substations with an Internet-based system.
Department leaders have pointed out that the actual substations are set to be replaced with Virtual District Offices that will allow residents to email police commanders and sergeants and view crime data for the each of the city's patrol districts.
But Sylvester Sylvester, a director of the Highland Palms Neighborhood Association, opined that the decision to save money by closing the substations was a mistake.
He said his neighbors appreciated being able to bring their problems to police personnel who were stationed nearby. Sylvester doubts that e-mail will be enough to keep those relationships between cops and residents alive.
"People like to be able to speak to someone one-on-one," he said.
Police Chief Michael Billdt said department managers expected concerns like those voiced by Sylvester and plan to host an open house at some point in November to discuss the department's future.
"One of the things we'll be doing is meeting with the public and educating them about what the model is going to be for the future," Billdt said.
The department's central area substation, which exists in a shopping center near the corner of Base Line and D Street, is but one of the locations that still has a few days left to function.
A sign on the substation's front door notifies people visiting the station for help that the office is set to close around Oct. 1. Capt. Ernie Lemos said the substation's last day will probably be sooner, with Sept. 29 marking
The DMV Neighborhood Cluster Association, one of the city's many neighborhood groups, held a thank-you lunch Tuesday for the cops and others working at the substation.
The afternoon wasn't without excitement. Some of the officers who sat down to the meal had to rush out to respond to a report of a bank robbery at a Washington Mutual branch.
Michael Martinez, a community prosecutor from the District Attorney's office, said he's worked out of the substation with police for about five years and that those working there felt like a family.
"It's kind of sad to see the place close," he said.
Police personnel who have worked at substations are slated to work out of the Police Department's headquarters after the offices closed.
Paterson said department employees who collaborated at the substations will still be able work in teams.
San Bernardino is not unique in closing police substations. Redlands officials made a similar move in 2007 to cut costs.
So now instead of having a police officer or community service officer to talk to you can log on to a web site. Wow, that sounds like first class service. Unfortunately the citizens don't realize Billdt fudged the stats on COP usage just like he does crime stats. He wanted to close them and he had his loyal managers cook up stats to justify it. The only loser here is the citizens.
The money the police department spent on new furniture and to move everyone back into the police department would have kept the doors open to the community offices for sometime. It is my understanding from an inside source, that Billdt is trying to over crowd the department so he can request a second station be built in the city, which will cost tax payers a ton of money. The new beat plan will not change anything and it is disrupting the department as we speak. There is no logic behind it and it does not save any money. Its to bad the mayor buys into everything the chief does...Good luck citizins of San Bernardino
1st Anonymous: I've heard the same thing about the Chief fugding the stats for the office. Even if he didn't what is a week? The useage of the office should have been judged over a much longer time period. He presented stats (real or false) to justify what he planned to do all along.
He is taking Community Services Officers who know these areas and are moving them to new areas or having them back on patrol. Stupid move, but then keep in mind who we are talking about.
Until the Mayor wakes up (probably never) or we get a new Chief (sooner than March 2009, I hope) we will be forced to Billdt's will because he knows SO MUCH MORE that us stupid citizens - NOT!