Kent Police presence in the Panther Lake area is about to become more visible in the very near future.
Following approval by the Kent City Council and Mayor Suzette Cooke’s signature, a full-service substation will be set up in Panther Lake at 10848 S.E. 208th St., on the East Hill. The station is expected to be operational this month.
According to Lt. Pat Lowery, spokesman for the Kent Police, the department was able to secure the facility with a no-cost lease. Lowery said the property manager was presented with the proposal demonstrating the increase revenues from other businesses with the presence of police.
The substation will have four work areas for officers.
“It will be a fully equipped work station,” Lowery said. “There will be an evidence processing area and a small conference area.”
The officers will have 24-hour access to the station. Lowery said when the officers are not patrolling they will be working at the substation.
Kent Police are making a concerted effort to move out into the neighborhoods in the Panther Lake area, which was annexed by the city in July 2010. The department’s public education department has connected with neighborhoods through personal contact and emails.
The connection with the neighborhoods paid off recently.
According to Lowery, a woman noticed a suspicious car near her home. She took a picture of the car with her cell phone and contacted the police.
The picture on her cell phone led to the identification of a suspect and when officers went to his home they found stolen material.
“Had the homeowner not been tuned into her neighborhood and took the picture we may not have caught him,” Lowery said.
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