Less than a week after the gang-related shooting at Destiny USA – officials and residents are looking to an example in Ontario County – to help make shoppers feel safe at the Syracuse mall.
That example is Eastview Mall in Victor, Ontario County. The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office has a substation there.
Putting a substation at Destiny USA could be a solution to the rise of gang activity at the mall, which the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office confirmed is an issue.
On @NewsChannel9 at 6:00: I’m LIVE at @EastviewMall near Rochester to take you inside @OntarioSheriff’s police substation inside the mall, as I’ve confirmed @SyracusePolice are considering one at @DestinyUSA. #SYR #LocalSYR pic.twitter.com/6Shg0WOWHq
— Andrew Donovan (@AndrewDonovan) December 5, 2019
The idea of a police substation was discussed in March of 2018, right after two stabbings happened within a week, according to WSYR-TV. At the time, then-Police Chief Frank Fowler liked the idea, but he worried about how to pay for it.
For over a decade, Wilmorite has provided the Sheriff’s Office physical space inside the mall, which is not only visible to shoppers – but provides quick access in case of an emergency.
While Sheriff Kevin Henderson admits that Eastview’s challenges are not the same as Destiny USA’s – he’s happy with how it has benefitted the mall, community, and his department.
Read more about this from WSYR-TV
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