Aiming to strengthen community ties, Palm Springs police open new Downtown Park substation ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

*Lt. Mike Torres reacts after cutting the ribbon with ceremonial scissors during an open house for the Palm Springs Police Department’s new substation at Downtown Park.*

The Palm Springs Police Department opened its new downtown substation at Downtown Park on Tuesday evening, marking the culmination of a five-year effort to bring officers closer to the community they serve.

The facility will house an integrated approach to policing, combining the department’s homeless outreach impact team with mental health clinicians and code enforcement officers under one roof. The substation will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday initially, with plans to expand hours based on community response.

Lt. Mike Torres said the goal is to create personal relationships with merchants, tourists and local residents.

“We really want to keep that instant relationship with our people,” he said. “So we want them to know us on a first-name basis.”

Torres said merchants have already expressed excitement about the renewed police presence.

“I’ve been walking the area and handing out flyers,” he said. “They’re so excited for this to come back, and I think they deserve it.”

The substation itself was originally built in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic but sat largely unused for years due to staffing issues and other priorities. Renewed interest in the project was sparked by Cathy Mills, wife of Police Chief Andy Mills, during a conversation with Torres.

“The reason this even happened is because of Cathy Mills,” Torres said. “We talk regularly. One day we were walking downtown, and she took me back here. The building was dusty and empty, and she asked, ‘How do we really get back to the community?’”

Torres said Mills reminded him that downtown merchants had once enjoyed a close connection with officers who patrolled the area on bikes.

*The view from the front lobby of the PSPD’s Downtown Park substation as officers meet for a briefing Tuesday evening.*

“She said staffing changes weren’t an excuse for us not to go out and do what we do,” he said. “So we had a vision. We collaborated, got the city involved — they were super supportive — and we got this thing done.”

During his remarks after the ribbon cutting, Mayor Ron deHarte praised the department’s approach.

“Opening up this substation, or hub, is just one more demonstration of what our department is doing,” deHarte said. “As our community needs change, and the community changes, our police department is staying in tune with those changes.”