North Jefferson News, Gardendale, AL

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November 14, 2008

Fultondale Police activates command unit

By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Potential thieves and shoplifters at the Colonial Promenade shopping center in Fultondale should beware — you are being watched.

This week, the Fultondale Police Department moved a mobile command unit to the northern end of the shopping center, adjacent to Target.

Mayor Jim Lowery said the command center will be set up at the shopping center through the end of the holiday season and will hopefully act as a crime deterrent. He said moving the unit to the site was not in response to any crime issues or concerns at the shopping center.

“I feel that often times you can prevent crime if you have a show of force,” he said. “We hope the command center’s presence will provide a safe shopping experience for all of the residents who are shopping at the center.”

Currently, Lowery said there are two full-time police officers who patrol the shopping center. The command center will mean more officers will be working out of the area, making reports and staying in contact with the city’s police dispatcher.

In addition to more officers patroling the shopping center, members of Fultondale’s Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT) will also be using the unit.

Fultondale Police Officer Allen Rogers said CERT members will likely work in shifts and will work in connection with the police department. “If they see something going on, whether a wreck report needs to be made or if a car door needs to be unlocked, they will have contact with our dispatchers,” he said.

Rogers said the most important aspect of the unit and having CERT team members assist officers is just having more eyes and ears at the shopping center.

“We want to be very, very visible,” he said. “We want shoppers to come here and feel safe and not have to watch their back so much. If we can entice them with safety, everybody benefits; the city benefits and the shoppers benefit.”

The command unit is a surplus trailer the city purchased for about $1,500 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Both Fultondale and Gardendale purchased the trailers which were considered surplus following Hurricane Katrina and sold to municipalities at low cost.

The trailer was striped and detailed to match the Fultondale Police Department’s vehicle scheme and will include walkie-talkie and phone access to the police department.

He said the unit would likely be used throughout the year at other city events.

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