WILSHIRE CENTER : Police to Open Center at Central Plaza

Businesses and residents around Wilshire Center will have a new neighbor when the Los Angeles Police Department opens a community service center at Central Plaza, 3450 Wilshire Blvd.

The center will serve as a space for officers to take crime reports, make phone calls and meet with residents and merchants, said Capt. Nick Salicos of the Rampart Division.

The center, scheduled to open this week, will be staffed by one officer and a volunteer Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.

With officers from the Wilshire and Rampart divisions working in the area, including foot and bike patrols, the center also will give other officers a place to conduct business without having to return to their stations. The Wilshire station is at 4861 Venice Blvd. The Rampart station is at 2710 W. Temple St. Normandie Avenue is the dividing line between the two divisions in the Mid-Wilshire area.

“This brings the Police Department closer to Wilshire Center, an area that has a high volume of motorist and pedestrian traffic,” Salicos said. “We hope the increased police presence will contribute to the community efforts to revitalize Wilshire Center.”

The center is at the junction of the jurisdictions of four senior lead officers, two each from the Wilshire and Rampart divisions. Senior lead officers work with teams of officers in specific areas within their divisions and are responsible for developing solutions to non-emergency crime problems.

Total Properties Management Co., managers of Central Plaza, donated the 525-square-foot space. The Larchmont Chronicle and Armada Insurance donated furniture, said Donna Dalton, senior vice president of the management company. Dalton said Central Plaza and the Police Department would welcome donations to help cover phone bills and other office supplies and expenses.

Information: (213) 487-3770.