Press Release: Joy Proposes Police Substation

Milford, Connecticut, September 13, 2011 – Republican Bernard “Bob” Joy, Jr. today proposed a new police substation, training facilities and a blend of community uses for the former Simon Lake Elementary School.

With this unique plan, Joy addresses security concerns of neighborhood, overcrowding at the existing Police Department, and a current space shortage for both emergency responder training and community groups in the area.

“My goal as Mayor is to be the impetus for solutions, not a complainer about problems,” Joy said. “My proposal will bring a new law enforcement presence to the neighborhood, while enhancing the community with increased activities and opportunities for recreation, the arts, and the adjacent Boys & Girls Club.”

Joy said he has spoken with Police Chief Keith Mello about placing a substation in the school.

“Chief Mello shares my belief that it is important for our officers to be in the community interacting with citizens. This novel blend of uses will not only revitalize the area, but also will encourage this interaction among officers, neighborhood leaders and the children of the community.”

By using Simon Lake School for training facilities in addition to the new police substation, Joy said any future renovations needed at the existing 35-year-old Police Department might be of a lesser scale. And enabling officers to process an arrestee in the new substation rather than return to Police Headquarters will decrease the time they are out of patrol service.

“I have a real record of supporting law enforcement and our first responders. My first vote as a new alderman was to restore a police officer’s position that had been eliminated by the prior Democrat leadership on the Board of Aldermen,” Joy said.

In addition to continuing his dialogue with police administrators about the new substation at Simon Lake School, Joy said he hopes to get feedback directly from residents as he continues to walk the neighborhoods in the area.

“And I welcome telephone calls from residents throughout the City on this plan,” Joy said.

Simon Lake Elementary School was closed last year as education administrators reconfigured the citywide system. The 45,445-square-ft. school was built in 1960 and remains, for the time being, under the control of the Board of Education.