Hopewell Police Station to open in two months
Published:Thursday | February 15, 2024 | 12:05 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The long-promised police station in Hanover’s fastest-growing economic and residential area, Hopewell, is scheduled to be opened in another two months.
Although not giving a specific date, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers told The Gleaner that the facility is almost ready, with the finishing touches being added.
Work has been taking place on the facility since January of 2023, but the pace was increased after Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels levelled criticisms against the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) over the length of time it was taking to refurbish and occupy the building, which was leased from the Hanover Municipal Corporation at a peppercorn rate.
“What we are looking at here is a building that is 98 per cent complete, and from all indications, [it] should be commissioned into service within another two months or so, hopefully before. I am sure the contractors will advise that they are working on a deadline. I cannot say the specific deadline, but rest assured that it will be opened within another eight weeks,” Chambers stated.
BETTERING POLICING PRODUCT
Chambers said that against the background of recent concerns that the JCF has about the Hopewell area, it has decided to increase its presence in the community and is intent on offering a better policing product.
Chambers said that a range of policing services will be available at the station.
“Everything will be there. It (the new station) will offer a full package of policing services, from community relations, CIB criminal investigations, [and] a traffic component. An array of police services will be provided here lacking none,” he emphasised.
“The intent also is to ensure that we have an adequate number of staff that does not only work here, but can become a part of the community, as we intend to extend our community policing drive,” Chambers noted in an exclusive Gleaner interview.
Turning to the traffic congestion in the area daily, Chambers said that issue will get significant focus when the station becomes operational.
“There will also be a sexual offence team here that will deal with offences of that nature, and we know that the offerings here will be of the highest standard,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Chambers had high praise for the construction team, highlighting the quality of work being done, and pointing out that they are from a construction team within the JCF.
“It is, in fact, being done by a construction team from within the JCF, meaning that we have persons within the JCF with the requisite architectural expertise, and they are the ones that are executing this project,” he stated.
“Quite impressive, but, again, it speaks to the diversity of the men and women who are in the force, and the different assets that we have, and the different techniques, capabilities and competencies that reside within the JCF,” he boasted.
Derrick Wright, president of the Hopewell Citizens’ Association, told The Gleaner that the residents are waiting patiently for the station with hopes that the proximity policing will reduce crime in the area.