July 17, 2009 – Effective July 31st, the Alton Police Department will be relocating its Sub-Station from its current location at Ridge Street and Sixth Street to Saint Clare’s Hospital at 915 East Fifth Street. The Sub-Station will be located just off the front lobby. Saint Clare’s Hospital is donating the space for the Sub-Station.
The decision to relocate the Sub-Station was prompted by the City’s financial situation. Deputy Chief of Police David Hayes said, “In 2002, the Alton Police Department sought and obtained U.S. Department of Justice funding to create a Weed & Seed program. Until this year, the Weed & Seed funding paid for the majority of the costs associated with running the Sub-Station. When the Weed & Seed funding expired, combined with potential layoffs of City personnel and Saint Clare’s Hospital’s offer to house the Sub-Station for free, the renewal of the lease at the Ridge Street location became less desirable from a budgetary point of view.”
Saint Clare’s Hospital, a division of Saint Anthony’s Health System, has played a key role in the Weed and Seed initiative since its inception. Diane Schuette, spokesperson for Saint Anthony’s, said, “We are pleased to be able to continue our support and partner with the City and Police Department on this important community endeavor.”
The Ridge Street Sub-Station has been in existence since 1995, a time when the Hunters Town Neighborhood was plagued with a statistically high crime rate. The opening of the Sub-Station created a substantial increase of police presence in the neighborhood. Since the opening of the Sub-Station, and with the help of area residents, the crime rate in the neighborhood has decreased.
Similar to what occurred at the Ridge Street location, the Alton Police Department will use the Sub-Station at Saint Clare’s Hospital to type reports, handle phone calls, and hold neighborhood meetings, including Weed & Seed meetings. At this point in time, the Sub-Station will not be manned on a full-time basis.
Did you know Riverbender.com is free for you thanks to our awesome advertisers? We noticed you're using an ad block software. Please give our sponsors some exposure by disabling your ad blocking service for Riverbender.com.
July 17, 2009 – Effective July 31st, the Alton Police Department will be relocating its Sub-Station from its current location at Ridge Street and Sixth Street to Saint Clare’s Hospital at 915 East Fifth Street. The Sub-Station will be located just off the front lobby. Saint Clare’s Hospital is donating the space for the Sub-Station.
