PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Right before FIFA visitors descend on Philadelphia, there’s a new space at Market East where law enforcement agencies can compare notes and coordinate coverage.
Mayor Parker joined police leaders and representatives of Jefferson University in cutting the ribbon Tuesday on a new safety hub at 11th and Market. It’s a place where officers from Jefferson, SEPTA and city police can share information, said Philly police commissioner Kevin Bethel.
“They’re on the road, right? They’re ready. They’ve got a supervisor. They’re out walking. But this is a good place for them to come, do paperwork, and to be able to engage and partner with our folks here at Jefferson,” he said.
The hub has a meeting space with TV screens on one side and cubicles with computers on the other. Jefferson director of public safety Kevin Seta said at previous events that officers may have had to coordinate at street corners.
“We communicate all the time. And I was just talking to someone else earlier and they said how is it going to change? Well, it’s not going to change. It’s going to get better,” Seta said.
The safety hub will be a permanent fixture, as Market East is revitalized.
The city contributed $1 million toward the hub.
