Tyler Police Substation Officially Opened

TYLER — A ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning has officially opened the Tyler Police Department south Tyler substation. It is located at 574 West Cumberland Road. Construction for the new 17,500 square foot facility began in March of last year. The $4.8 million project was funded by the city’s half-cent sales tax. City officials say the police substation will allow patrol officers assigned to south Tyler to maximize patrol time in their assigned areas. It will also reduce call time for service in South Tyler. The substation, which will provide short term property and evidence storage, will also allow ease of access for the department’s criminal investigators and community response officers. According to the city’s figures, the substation will create annual savings of over $200,000, primarily in officers’ time and gasoline.

Officials say an analysis of the current officer travel time for Beats 4, 5, and 6 revealed that those officers are spending 5,161.54 hours annually traveling to and from their area of responsibility at a cost of $219,107. It has been determined that the officers’ time could be better managed with a south substation, according to a city news release. The City will not be adding any personnel, but instead will be housing officers closer to their beats for improved service.