A Police Substation in Central Square

Council Order #17-78; Ref: Central Square

In reference to Council Order, #17-78 pertaining to Central Square, Police Commissioner Bard is studying the efficacy of implementing a police sub-station in the Square. It is anticipated that the study will be brief. The Commissioner is juxtaposing the efficacy of using a mobile sub-station vs. a portable but fixed sub- station (“guard shack” such as the type used by several area police departments, Boston, Lowell, etc.) vs. a fixed location (vacant storefront).

In the interim, the Department has increased its presence in Central Square using a variety of methods resulting in praise from local businesses and residents. In addition to having officers normally assigned to the area conduct “Park and Walks”, the Department has included Central Square in its High-Visibility Patrol (HVP) deployment strategy.

Essentially, HVP floods an area with a contingent of officers utilizing cruisers, bicycles and walking foot-beats; the goal is to increase the number of positive interactions with citizens, not increased enforcement activities. Since early September 2017, members of the CPD have spent more than six-hundred additional hours in Central Square / Carl Barron Plaza.

Over the past month, CPD has held two Cambridgeport and Riverside Neighborhood Community Meetings. At both meetings residences spoke loud and clear that they needed and wanted additional police presence in Central Square. The department recognizes how important a sub-station is to the Cambridgeport and Riverside Neighborhoods and to the safety of the City, along with its potential to increase the effectiveness and efficiency in responding to calls. Commissioner Bard is committed to exploring all options and the range of alternative approaches available. The Commissioner anticipates presenting options to the City Manager after 60 but no later than 90 days from submission of this response.

CPD will continue to devote increased resources in an effort to bolster its presence and increase community-policing efforts in Central Square.

Respectfully,

Branville, G. Bard, Jr.

Police Commissioner