Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

End of Era at Wood Street Station as Police Head South, Report to New Brass

By Alisa Hauser | December 18, 2012 10:24am
 Melissa Staples, a 22-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, will  serve as commander  of the new 'Near West' District when it opens this week at 1412 S. Blue Island Avenue. 
 The new $21 million facility absorbs the 12th and 13th districts.
Melissa Staples, a 22-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, will serve as commander of the new 'Near West' District when it opens this week at 1412 S. Blue Island Avenue. The new $21 million facility absorbs the 12th and 13th districts.
View Full Caption
Geoff Ziezulewicz

EAST VILLAGE —  Officers from the Wood Street Station on Wednesday will report to a new $21 million facility 3.3 miles south of their old to join the Near West District, a merger of two districts.

Commander Melissa Staples, a 22-year-department veteran, will lead the Near West District at 1412 S. Blue Island Ave., on the border of Little Italy and Pilsen neighborhoods.

The venture consolidates the 12th and 13th Districts and represents the city's largest police district, spanning eight communities and employing over 500 officers, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said at an unveiling of the environmentally-friendly building Saturday.

Acting Wood St. District Commander Capt. Kevin Anderson, 52, who replaced a retired commander in mid-October, described the new facility as "light years ahead" of the existing police station and predicted it will be "a morale booster" for officers.

 A new police station at 1412 S. Blue Island Ave. will open this week at the border of Little Italy and Pilsen neighborhoods. Home to the newly created Near West Police District, the $21 million station will represent a consolidation of the 12th and 13th districts.
A new police station at 1412 S. Blue Island Ave. will open this week at the border of Little Italy and Pilsen neighborhoods. Home to the newly created Near West Police District, the $21 million station will represent a consolidation of the 12th and 13th districts.
View Full Caption
Artefaqs Corporation/Wayne Lorentz

Built in 1960, the neighborhood police station was eliminated as part of Mayor Emanuel's 2012 budget. Currently the basement at the Wood St. station suffers from flooding and is not ADA compliant, Anderson said. 

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy referred to residents' concerns about lessened police presence due to the closure of the station at 937 N. Wood St. as "unfounded."

"A building doesn't keep people safe. The cops do," McCarthy said, citing "more officers on the streets and greater efficiencies." 

Policing beats in the consolidated 'Near West' will be reduced from 18 to 15, as reported in a final 13th district beat meeting earlier this month.

Attorney and East Village resident Anne Shaw organized a 'Save the 13th' petition that yielded over 1,800 signatures and toured the 'Near West' station.

"It's big, it's nice, it's really far away. We are most concerned about distance and rapid response times. With a larger beat area we don't know where [the officers] are coming from," Shaw said. 

Looking to the future, Shaw said that Staples has "got a very impressive background, knows the 13th District very well, and she's very friendly and committed to working with the community and plans to go to all CAPS meetings."

 UK Village resident and community activist Anne Shaw stands in front of the 13th District police station at 937 N. Wood St., which will secure its doors permanently Wednesday as officers report to the new 'Near West District' HQ. 
  
UK Village resident and community activist Anne Shaw stands in front of the 13th District police station at 937 N. Wood St., which will secure its doors permanently Wednesday as officers report to the new 'Near West District' HQ.  
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

A police spokeswoman did not return calls for comment.