Funding approved for Fresno Police facility in Tower District

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno's Tower District will soon see a stepped up police presence.

Funding has been approved for a new police satellite station to serve the neighborhood.

Patrons, business owners and residents believe the Tower District is the perfect place to open a satellite police office.

And many have grown weary of the crimes committed in the area.

In the fall, a vacant building which used to house Fulton's Folly will house a 2,000 square foot satellite office.

"The intent is to have a crime prevention specialist, community service officer at the location," Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.

"But it definitely would be a place for our Tower District bike patrols to be housed out of that location so that they would go in and out of that facility."

Council member Esmeralda Soria helped secure $25,000 in the city budget to fund the office.

"I think with the presence of having more patrols, our bike unit, it's going to be very positive for the community," she said. "So, we're very excited about what is going to happen hopefully this fall."

In September, a new central policing district will open at Manchester Center.

Dyer wanted to make sure the Tower was not underserved.

"We felt it was important to have a satellite office there so we would continue to have that police presence in the Tower District, he said.

Some renovation work needs to be done before the space can open.

"We want to make sure the community knows that it will accessible to them," Soria said. "There'll be a community room where we can have community meetings."

Council members Soria and Oliver Baines share the Tower District.

They also expect to share space in the community room if residents have questions or concerns.