Police Director Ralph Rivera said patrols will begin working out of the two substations, which were built in 2006 but closed in 2010
Two closed police precincts in the East and West wards will reopen this Friday, officials said. In this 2011 file photo, Trenton police respond to a call at East State and Hampton streets.
TRENTON — Two shuttered police substations will reopen Friday, adding a more visible police presence to neighborhoods in the East and West wards, officials said today.
City officials and Police Director Ralph Rivera confirmed today that patrols will begin working out of the two substations, which were built in 2006 but closed in 2010.
Rivera said reopening the precincts has been a goal of his since he was appointed director earlier this year.
"For numerous reasons, I feel there's nothing sadder than seeing an empty police station rotting away, if you will," Rivera said.
The police director said more details about the plan would be announced at press conferences Friday. The West precinct, located at the corner of Hermitage Avenue and Artisan Street, will reopen at 11 a.m. and the East precinct, at the corner of Greenwood and Cuyler Avenues, at 1 p.m.
The announcement comes as the city continues to grapple with a surge in violent crime that has led both Rivera and Mayor Tony Mack to reach out to state officials to request more State Police manpower or funding to hire more city officers. Trenton has seen 24 homicides so far this year, the same number as for all of 2011.
Rivera and his chief of staff met Monday with Attorney General Jeff Chiesa and Col. Rick Fuentes, the superintendent of the State Police, to talk about bringing more State Police to the capital city. Rivera said he could not discuss how many State Police the state might lend to Trenton, but said more officers could arrive in Trenton as soon as next week.
"We're putting together a plan now for intelligence-led policing to saturate grids where we have determined to have the most spike in violence," Rivera said. "We're working out the logistics right now and I'm hoping to have more State Police here as early as next week."
The additional State Police and the reopening of the substations should hopefully augment the police department's crime response, Rivera said. The East and West precincts will be open 24 hours a day and should give residents a greater sense of security, especially in the Hermitage Avenue area, which has seen several shootings and ongoing drug activity in the last several months.
"It doesn't make sense to pay a mortgage on those buildings and not utilize them," Rivera said. "It will add a visible presence, reduce response time and make the community feel safer."