City to hold two open houses at new Cape police station: city looks to open substation at south cape convenience store

The public will have an opportunity to view Cape Girardeau's new police station at two open houses this month.

Meanwhile, the location of a new, small police substation on the south side of the city was confirmed. It will be built at the Bi-State convenience store on South Sprigg Street, police chief Wes Blair said, adding the business is providing the space free of charge to the city.

Blair said Wednesday he hopes the substation will be open by summer.

The open houses will be held March 24, from 9 a.m. to noon, and March 26, 3 to 6 p.m.

Blair said the first open house is being held on a Saturday morning to make it convenient for families. It also is a less busy time at the station, he said.

The March 24 open house will be held in conjunction with the Coffee for Cops event, sponsored by Starbucks.

While the jail and evidence room at the new, $11.4 million station won't be open to the public, Blair said the public will be able to tour other parts of the building.

In addition to allowing the public to get a firsthand look at the new station, Blair said it also will provide an opportunity to thank people "face to face for making this happen."

Voters approved a fire sales tax and public safety trust fund in 2014. Casino revenue and restaurant tax money also helped fund the project, city officials said.

"We are pretty proud of that," Blair said of the facility. "I think people are going to be pretty excited to come out."

The new station at 2530 Maria Louise Lane, adjacent to Arena Park, opened earlier this month

As for the substation, it will be a small space and will not be manned routinely, Blair said.

But the substation at Bi-State would allow officers to meet with south-side residents and others who wish to speak with the police at a convenient location, he said.

Blair said the substation is "more of a viewable presence in the neighborhood."

The Bi-State site, where the substation will be located, is at 612 S. Sprigg St.

The business is providing the space free of charge, Blair said, adding the timetable for opening the substation rests with Bi-State.

Anna Kangas, the city's building and code enforcement manager, said no plans for the substation have been submitted to the city.

The Southeast Missourian reached out to Bi-State's Scott Blank, but repeated voice messages were not returned Wednesday.

Some Cape Girardeau residents have expressed concern about the new police station on Maria Louise Lane being farther away from the south part of the city where many of the crimes occur. The old station is at 40 S. Sprigg St.

But Blair and other city officials repeatedly have assured the public the location change won't impact law enforcement efforts because officers are out in their cars patrolling the city.

At the new station, Blair said, "the patrol area is a small area. It is not conducive for hanging out. We want them on the street."

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641