JCPD brings officers closer to downtown with new substation
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) is all settled into its new downtown substation, located at the Downtown Centre.
The JCPD said the Community Policing Unit, or Platoon 5, now calls the substation home. The building was recently available after Northeast State Community College decided not to renew its lease on the space, which it called its Johnson City campus.
A news release from the JCPD said Platoon 5 consists of a lieutenant, a sergeant, community housing and downtown officers, the homeless outreach coordinator and a traffic unit.
The department said that along with day-to-day operations and response efforts downtown, the unit will be the designated group responsible for handling special events or programs that take place downtown.
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Sgt. Nathan Carman is an officer who’s worked the downtown area since 2016. He said he is already seeing the benefits of the new substation downtown.
“Due to our location, we can respond to calls in an expedited manner,” he said. “Many downtown businesses and residents are appreciative, and it’s advancing our working relationships with them. In our discussions, they tell us about issues and share concerns we may not see, which helps us better serve our community.”
The department said while the substation is not open to the public, it will be staffed on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. These members of the department will be the first response to any matters that could take place in the downtown area, although they’re not the only ones working that beat.
“If you need an officer in the downtown area, the best and quickest way to get one to your location is to call 911,” said Lt. Mark Hollis. “Platoon 5 is just a portion of the officers you will see in this area. Downtown is protected by officers that patrol this section of the City around the clock.”
JCPD’s Chief Billy Church said in the release that the strong growth of the downtown area necessitates the new substation.
“The concentration of businesses and increased residences downtown necessitate a strong police presence,” said Police Chief Billy Church. “We want everyone who works in, lives in or visits downtown Johnson City to feel safe.”
The Downtown Centre is owned by the Johnson City Development Authority (JCDA) and is also the home of some East Tennessee State University (ETSU) operations. ETSU is using a part of the facility as classroom and office space to help it get through several major campus renovations, including its historic Brown Hall. The JCDA leases portions of the centre to tenants.
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