Extending its citizen outreach partnership programs, the Missouri City Police Department will open the doors of its first community Mini-Station at 1703-A Texas Pkwy. on Saturday, Aug. 4.

A grand-opening ceremony will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and all residents are invited to attend.

The 1,250-square-foot station is located down the street from City Hall and in the same shopping center as neighborhood landmarks Shipley Donuts and Walter’s Barber Shop. It will help police officers achieve multiple crime-prevention goals such as:

• Providing citizens more access to police who patrol and protect the area


• Contributing to intelligence-led strategies to curtail crime citywide


• Allowing officers to build on existing alliances with businesses in the Corridor, which will continue to enhance economic development growth in the region


• Decreasing the overall amount of time officers assigned to the Northern section of the City spend away from their designated patrol areas handling routine administrative matters. They will now be able to take care of some issues at the Mini-Station.


• Promoting the home and business inspections offered by certified police officers who share safety and security recommendations.

The Mini-Station will be staffed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, citizens can expect a consistent police presence at the facility as all patrol officers assigned to the Northern section of the City will maintain visibility at the location as they report on- and off-duty from the Mini-Station. As personnel become available, the Mini-Station will be staffed on a 24-hour timeframe.

While the center is open, citizens can visit with officers to “share community concerns, file complaints, and receive handouts on the City’s proactive policing projects, including the Crime Watch and House Watch programs,” said Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. “We’re looking forward to starting yet another comprehensive approach to collaborating with the community, and in the future, the Mini-Station concept will spread from the 2234 Corridor to Highway 6 and other areas throughout the City.”

Start-up costs of about $30,000 for the City-Council approved initiative is being funded with donations from the Citizens’ Police & Fire Auxiliary Fundraiser, Richard Alaniz Painting, Incorporated, and Dixie Carpet. Future expenses will be paid through the Police Department budget.

“Missouri City values our pledge to provide excellent services to our citizens and business owners,” Fitzgerald said, noting that the mini-station is another “visible symbol of that commitment.”

For updates on the project, please monitor the website, www.missouricitytx.gov, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse) and follow us @MissouriCityTX on Twitter.