SAN CLEMENTE : Sheriff’s Dept. to Open Storefront

Crime prevention and community support officers will soon set up shop in downtown San Clemente to acquaint residents with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the services it offers.

The storefront office, a 90-day pilot project, will open Monday in donated space at Bailiwicks, 105 Avenida del Mar. It will be staffed with community support deputies, crime prevention specialists, a drug education officer and volunteers.

The office will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In a recent report to the City Council, Police Services Chief Tom Davis said the storefront office is “the first step in letting the community know who we are and what services we offer.”

Officials will also survey residents about their concerns.

So far, the only costs of the operation have been for a few gallons of paint and for a banner to let people know the location of the office, Davis said in the report.

All services being provided are included in the department’s contract with the city, which started July 1.

In addition to information about law enforcement programs, the following services will also be available through the office:

* Video displays on some services and special units offered to the city through the Sheriff’s Department, such as helicopters.

* Fingerprinting of children, which is helpful in solving missing-children cases.

* Officers available to take reports, look for lost children and handle other police-related situations.

If the project is successful, officials said, they hope to periodically move the office to other high-activity parts of the city.