Community leaders at the opening of Anne Arundel County?s new police substation in Laurel were relieved at the completion of a project that they say has been 30 years in the making.
“This station is a needed addition and an effort that has just been ongoing, and we?re thrilled that it will help increase [police] visibility,” said community activist Jeanne Mignon. She said she has been lobbying for it since 1970.
The Russett-Maryland City Community Office is literally an office suite with three small rooms and a kitchen area. Patrol officers will use it to complete administrative work and meet with residents, who can come there to report crime.
County Police Chief P. Thomas Shanahan said patrol officers would otherwise have to drive more than 10 miles to the West Station in Odenton.
The substation will not hold prisoners, and officers are not on hand around the clock.
Three to four officers will rotate shifts to serve residents? needs until hours are set. If an officer is not available, visitors can use an emergency phone posted outside of the station that connects them to the communications section of the department.
County Executive Janet Owens was on hand at the opening, and said the Laurel location was an effort to better include a region that felt like the “outpost” of the county.
“Of course every community would like to have a substation, but we can?t do that, so we have to pick by priority,” Owens said.
Laurel spans Anne Arundel, Prince George?s and Howard counties, which presents some special challenges for police. Capt. Athena Marpel said that although violent crime in the area is down, the constant flow of people causes the force to be more vigilant.
“When you have new people in the area, every now and then we?ll get a spree,” she said, “This is a border area, and we?re very aggressive with crime.”
