New substation hopes to fill gap in police presence in north Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An area in northwest Austin is home to a new safety center. It’s a trailer that will serve as a substation of sorts and be used by Austin police officers and Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.

It was an idea from Austin councilwoman Mackenzie Kelly, who oversees District 6.

“This was driven by the ongoing concerns of the community and the critical need for a dedicated space for our officers to conduct investigative functions, write reports, and engage directly with community members,” Kelly said.

The substation is currently located outside an office building on Pecan Park Boulevard. It’s near the Williamson County line in an unincorporated part of the city.

The goal is to hopefully one day have a more permanent solution.

For people who live nearby, it is a welcome sight to the neighborhood.

“As a community, we want to feel safe where we live. And a lot of that has been sort of dismantled, but I think this is a good step,” said Tina Rodriguez.

The goal of the substation is to allow officers to work there, do paperwork, but also to meet people in the area.

“Our officers have a place to land a lot quicker, mine aren’t coming from Georgetown, they’re not coming from across the town. Like the chief said, his are not coming from downtown Austin,” Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason said.

Austin police say the presence of the trailer alone is a great crime deterrent.

“Having the trailer here marked up as an APD facility, having the patrol officers in the area, coming to and leaving this particular area is going to let the community know we are in the area, even if you don’t see us at the moment, we are in this area more than we have been in the past,” Austin Police Department Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt said.

All while helping fill a gap in an area that was once underserved.

“(Police) are forced to be more efficient,” Greenwalt added. “We’re forced to look at technology, to find ways to make up for that staffing shortage and use innovative ways (like this trailer) to get members of our police department out in the community.”

Plans for the permanent substation remain in the works.

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