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City, residents eager for new substation

By Ilan Brat

Chandler residents living west of the Price Freeway should have more efficient police protection when a west Chandler police substation opens in two to three years, Chandler police spokeswoman Det. Emma Bribiescas said.

The substation’s location in west Chandler will allow police to spend more time on the street, Bribiescas said.

“For officers who work the farthest west boundaries of Chandler and need to return to the police station, it can take them at least 30 minutes, depending upon traffic,” Bribiescas said. 

“…If they had a closer station that would meet their needs, they’d be back on patrol that much faster.”

The new substation, which will be located just south of Desert Breeze Park, is expected to reduce the amount of driving time currently facing officers when they transport prisoners to downtown Chandler for processing.

Chandler’s recent, rapid growth in the west and south has increased demands on the downtown station and contributed to the need for the substation, Bribiescas says.

The growing concerns of west Chandler residents that heavy traffic around Chandler Fashion Center would slow down officers needing to get to the downtown station also influenced the decision to build the substation, Bribiescas said.

So far, community response to the substation has been positive.

Tim Adcock, who lives near the planned site, offered what he felt were the pros and cons of a neighborhood substation.

“I guess that would be a pro,” Adcock said.  “There’d be more of a police presence here.”

Neighbor Shiela Schmidt said it would be better for the community.

“I, for one, can’t wait for the substation to get in,” she said.

The new Chandler police building could also increase police response time in west Chandler, Bribiescas said.

“Having an officer utilize a station that’s in the beat that they work in gets them back on patrol much faster,” she said. 

The substation, like the downtown station, will have holding cells for securing prisoners while police fill out necessary paperwork to process the prisoners with Maricopa County.

Officers from three beats covering Ray to Pecos roads and Price to Kyrene roads will be assigned to the substation.

More information about the substation or Chandler Police Department can be found at www.chandlerpd.com.

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