Central Beefs Up Police Dept.

Central Beefs Up Police Dept.

Since approval by the Central City Council of funds to hire a new Assistant Police Chief and additional rent for a larger office, Central Police Chief James Salsbury has moved forward aggressively toward beefing up his department.
Using volunteer police officers and donated materials, Salsbury has nearly completed the move to a new 2,200-square-foot space next to the previous police station at 13421 Hooper Road.    On Wednesday night, the volunteers were painting and cleaning up.  The Denham Springs Police Department and the City of Baton Rouge supplied surplus desks and furniture to help out.  Otherwise, the only real expense has been the cost of moving utilities, Chief Salsbury said.
The chief will propose the hiring of Steve Wallace as full-time assistant police chief at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Central City Council.  Wallace is retiring after 30 years with the Sheriff’s office to accept the position.  The hiring is subject to Council approval.
Salsbury said there will be an office for the chief, assistant chief, and internal affairs, as well as a secure evidence room and two bathrooms.  He is working to put LA Crash in place, which is a statewide computer system that will allow the Central police force to handle traffic accidents, taking a load off the Sheriff’s office and State Police.
The Central Police Department has 10 volunteer police officers and seven police vehicles.  Salsbury has said his goal is to create a police department similar to volunteer fire departments across the country.  However, his volunteers are primarily retired law enforcement officers.
Chief Salsbury said he is very grateful to his volunteer officers and to the others who have given of themselves to make the new police station a reality.  He said it should be functional by Monday, August 11 and will be operating full-time starting Sept. 1 when he hopes the new assistant chief will be on board.
The chief said he hopes to have an Open House when the new station is completely set up, so that the public will be able to see how the facilities will function.

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