Officer Wesely argued that the center would make community police officers seem more a part of the neighborhood, serving as a home base for two community police officers and two community detectives who would handle calls in that neighborhood. On busy nights, police officers patrolling the city s far east side could use the center to fill out reports or do interviews, rather than heading all the way into the central police station. But the center would be more than a small police department. The intent is really to be a community center. The center would be a centralized meeting place to bring together government and the community on a daily basis.
Citizens feel more comfortable coming to their own center to report problems and share concerns.
The building would contain space for a community resource center and public meetings. The facility would serve as a hub for the community. A main focus of the center will be to build bridges with the citizens in the neighborhood and the children who attend the three schools surrounding the park. Its proximity to East High School, Washington Middle School, and Sullivan Elementary School means that 3,000 students would be in close contact with neighborhood officers. With approval for the building from the City Council, but no money in the budget to work with, Officer Wesely then began soliciting assistance from the community.