Argyle Area Civic Council

Police Stop Station in Argyle Forest Opens November 2002

About the Picture - See the Full Article Below.

JSO Lt. R.H. Elkins and AACC President David Hodges enter the new stop station near Blanding Boulevard on 11-12-2002. The stop station will increase police presence in a high traffic accident area and provide a place for officers to write reports and make phone calls.
-- Sandy Strickland - Times Union Staff

A Request for an Expanded Police Stop-Station - March 4, 2002

The Argyle Area Civic Council recognizes the outstanding quality of the officers in Zone 4 and the able leadership whom helps insure our safety. The willingness of Assistant Chief George Bennett and fourteen of the zone’s officers, sergeants, lieutenants, and detectives to take their personal time to attend the February meeting was an impressive display of community involvement.

The Argyle Area Civic Council (AACC) requests that an “expanded” traffic sub-station be placed in the area nearest to Blanding Boulevard and I-295. This area contains the three highest accident intersections in Zone 4.

The AACC has obtained business community commitment for 455 square feet of space in the Argyle Business Commerce Center. The owner of this property realizes that some modifications will be necessary to accommodate the Sheriff’s Office, and has generously offered to permit essential changes to the space.

Other local businesses have offered substantial help with the expenses of needed equipment, and build-out requirements. Additionally, offers have been extended for office furniture, as well as breakroom equipment and certain supplies.

While the Argyle area has very low crime statistics, the accident / injury / death incidents are disproportionately high and worthy of more presence and focus by JSO. Blanding Boulevard is more than 180% of capacity here. Every option must be properly evaluated with ingenuity.

An “expanded” or “active” traffic stop station would provide high visibility for JSO, and assist in achieving the goals for active community policing. This location would provide a convenient location for citizens desiring to report infor-mation, whenever officers are present. Marked unit visibility will heighten public awareness of JSO presence and help increase community cooperation.

It has been suggested that a C.O.P. squad could use this location to fall in at 9:00 a.m. Traffic officers could also use this location for reporting in several days per week, utilizing it as a check-off location. This location may also be utilized for “Neighborhood Sheriff’s Advisory Council” meetings.

The need for Neighborhood Watch and citizen cooperation citizens in helping solve community problems and in crime prevention is now accepted fact. Higher visibility of marked patrol units in the area will encourage such participation as the community gets better acquainted with “our” officers.

To further assist with this effort toward greater cooperation, the AACC is asking that a Zone 4 officer attend our monthly meetings. The JSO may even wish to consider a permanent representative to our Board of Directors.

The AACC realizes that proposed road improvements and that Special Area Planning will eventually provide some traffic relief at the Blanding/ I-295 interchanges, however the short-term circumstances deserve JSO and transportation agencies attention.

It is suggested that the JSO be provided additional tools to help police this area, such as a “Blanding Accident Patrol” that would operate similar to the Buckman Bridge Patrol.

Because this is one of the highest accident areas in the state, the JSO may also consider asking for participation from the Federal, State, and Jacksonville departments of transportation. Coordinating signals, and innovative, low cost changes could have a very positive short-term effects.

While it is obvious that JSO traffic officers are skilled at handling accidents in high traffic areas (plenty of practice), it will be important for each officer to have the additional opportunities to learn any new techniques available for handling these over capacity roads and highways.

Please give every consideration to establishing an “expanded” traffic stop-station in this location.

Sincerely Yours,

David Hodges,
President AACC

CC: Councilwoman Alberta Hipps

Email us
ArgyleACC@netzero.net

Florida Times Union Articles Hotlinks

TU 11-16-2002 - Police Stop Station in Argyle Opens
TU Article 6-12-2002 - Police plan stop station in Argyle
TU 3-2-2002 - Argyle gets approved for a police stop station
TU Article 6-20-2002 - I-295-Blanding traffic focus of plan