DATE: Monday, November 10, 1997             TAG: 9711100036

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   42 lines

NEW OFFICE MEANS COMMUNITY COPS ARE CONNECTED AGAIN

Members of the Police Department's community services section, perhaps the most sought-after officers on the force, are back in touch after nearly two months without a telephone.

For much of that time, they were also without lights, furniture and equipment.

Thanks to the School Board, they had a space - a satellite police center on the grounds of John F. Kennedy Middle School at 2325 E. Washington St. Gradually, they've accumulated furnishings - most of it the school's surplus equipment - for their modular office.

``There's been a lot of hard work by the unit, painting and making it look decent,'' said Sgt. J.C. Patterson, who supervises the section with Lt. Kyle W. Holmes.

The satellite center has desk space for four bicycle officers and two community officers, who work in partnership with neighborhoods to reduce crime by solving problems identified by the residents.

The D.A.R.E. officers, school liaison officers and guards, and the public safety marine patrol also work out of the center.

The officers moved to the school site because of crowding at police headquarters on Wellons Street. But delays in hooking up telephone lines and electricity have made it difficult to reach the officers except by leaving a message with the dispatcher, who could contact them on the radio. But then, they would have to borrow a phone to return the call.

Still, the officers have to ``borrow'' restrooms inside the school.

``We've had nothing but cooperation from the School Board and from John F. Kennedy since we've been over here,'' Patterson said.

Voice mail was installed on the telephones Friday, and eventually, their computer will be tied in to police headquarters, he said.

School and police officials will have a ribbon cutting for the center today at 10 a.m., followed by tours and refreshments. The ceremony will also include a kick-off for Project Lighthouse, a joint venture of the School Board and police to reduce truancy.

For more information, call the community services officers at 925-5640.

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