The Sedona Police Department will soon have a greater presence in Uptown thanks to the generosity of a local businessman.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, SPD Chief Charles Husted had been in talks with Al Spector, owner of Sinagua Plaza in Uptown, about opening a resource center in one of his units. Many things have been put on hold the last several months, including this project. But now, things are back on track.
“I’m very excited about this,” Husted said. “It’s in the ideal location — right there in the middle of Uptown. It’s something that will benefit residents and visitors as well as our staff.”
The resource center, which is slated to open later in the month, will be staffed by a dozen SPD volunteers who have already stepped forward to offer their assistance. The exact days of operation and hours have not been ironed out but Husted is hoping the center will be open daily. There, the volunteers can offer assistance on things from general information to found or lost property.
Currently, the SPD has been given use, free of charge, of a small office on the side of Sedona Fire District’s Station 3 on Forest Road, also in Uptown. The city’s community service aides use that office for a variety of things including storage and a place to take breaks. Husted said since SFD is in the process of possibly building a new station at that location, he felt now was a good time to find something a bit more permanent. And like the fire department’s office, the unit offered by Spector is also free for the city.
“We were looking for something bigger and more sustainable,” Husted said. “We truly appreciate Al Spector’s generosity because without it, this wouldn’t be possible.”
The new center will have a front area for the volunteers and a back portion that will be utilized by the CSAs as well as uniformed officers. The department already designates offices to the Uptown area. While they won’t be permanently assigned to the center like a substation, Husted said the officers will work out of it as well. It gives them a designated area to meet with members of the public, do reports or take a break.
“This helps increase our presence and meets the needs of that area of town,” Husted said.
