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After years of being located on Park Avenue on the fringe of Park Extension, the Montreal Police Department’s Station 33 has a new home on Beaumont Avenue closer to the heart of the neighbourhood. Not only are Station 33’s new digs closer to Park Extension’s centre, they are also larger than they were at the old location.
More central
“We’re central to the territory and we’re close to the Acadie Metro also,” said the station’s Commander André-Guy Lamothe, who hosted an open house at the new offices on June 15. “We’re right where the citizens are. We have more space, so it’s more workable for all the staff.” Station 33 would have been busting at the seams if it had remained at the old location.
While that building was indeed more modern, a new police unit, the Module d’Action par Projet (MAP), which is attached to Station 33, required more space than if the station were providing only neighbourhood policing services. Among the new staff at the station this year is a civilian employee to maintain liaison with citizens and community groups. The new space includes a conference room and interview rooms for investigators to take statements from citizens with complaints.
Pleased with staff
Laurier-Dorion Liberal MNA Gerry Sklavounos arrived at the open house with a sense of humor. “I came to turn myself in,” he quipped to an NPEN journalist. A number of other representatives of local community groups also turned up to visit the new facilities and touch base with members of the station’s staff. “I am sincerely pleased with all the work that has been done here over the past few years by my staff,” Commander Lamothe said while addressing guests during the gathering.
“As you have perhaps been able to see, they are committed, they are present among you,” he added. “When we have information sessions either during the day, in the evening or on weekends, the police are always available to answer your needs. If we are able to succeed, that is also really because of the commitment of all the police out on the territory. If Montreal is one of the nicest and most secure cities, it’s because of a group effort by everyone helping everyone else to improve safety for all.”
A popular decision
Marc Parent, chief of operations for the Montreal Police Department’s northern sector, said everyone in the department was pleased with the decision to relocate to Beaumont Ave. “There’s a lot more space in terms of offices for the various members of the team,” he said.