Downtown police substation opens

COEUR d'ALENE - The new Coeur d'Alene Police Department substation on Sherman Avenue is officially open for business.

On Tuesday morning, representatives of the city government and police department gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new substation at 1424 Sherman Ave.

In his last day as interim chief of police, Ron Clark told those gathered that Tuesday marked the end of a disconnect that was created when the department's headquarters moved to Kathleen Avenue 15 years ago.

"This is an excellent opportunity for us to really have an impact downtown," Clark said. "We are going to be able to build a partnership with the community here."

Clark thanked the members of the department who were instrumental in making the substation a reality, then Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer addressed attendees.

"This has been in the works for a few years now and it's really good to have this come to fruition," Widmyer said.

Widmyer added that the opening of the substation is a start in efforts to improve the east Sherman area, and he believes the police presence in the area will bring more businesses.

"With that, let's cut this ribbon and get to work," Widmyer said.

Widmyer, Clark and Lee White, who was sworn in Tuesday afternoon as the city's new chief of police, cut the ribbon and invited attendees to take a tour of the facility.

The 1,000-square-foot building, which features several offices and many photos from the department's past, will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sgt. Christie Wood said the station is being rented using surplus budget funds and will be staffed by full-time officers and report takers.

"It's available 24/7 for officers to utilize," Wood said. "Having this visibility and accessibility to the police department, and not having to try to locate us at the northern end of town, is going to be much more effective."