Fort Worth (WBAP/KLIF News) – Fort Worth has started construction on a station to serve the northern part of the city. Since 2000, the city says 135,000 people have moved into the area north of Loop 820.
“We’ve had to shuffle police officers up here to temporary quarters,” says Mayor Betsy Price. “They couldn’t do community policing. This will give them a home, let the community find them.”
The station, on Riverside Drive, north of Tarrant Parkway, should open next year. Now, the closest station is in the Stockyards.
“Some of our Code Blue folks have really been harping about getting a facility in this community. They’re right,” says Chief Joel Fitzgerald. “Proper planning is key, making sure areas where we’re going to experience growth as a city, we’re positioned well.”
Fitzgerald says the station will reduce response times north of 820. The station will sit on 12 acres of land. The project will cost $14 million.
Fort Worth police are now hiring officers to staff the location instead of moving officers from other divisions. The Sixth Division will also have a dedicated radio channel to improve communication among officers north of 820.
“We were basically shrinking the resources we used in North Division to cover Far North,” Fitzgerald says. “When this facility opens, day one, we will be able to put more officers into this area, not take any officers away from another area. It’s been win-win.”
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