March 4, 2004

San Jose Police Department re-opens Oakridge substation

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

Amid fanfare and regalia, San Jose Police Department [SJPD] Southern Division re-opened their substation at Westfield Shoppingtown Oakridge last Saturday.

The station is located near the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Winfield and is located on the ground level of parking garage ‘A' near Linens ‘n Things. City officials, Westfield executives and the public celebrated the dedication with a performance by the Los Gatos Monte Sereno pipes and drums, the SJPD mounted horse patrol, Overfelt High School's ROTC and members of the San Jose Fire Department with the Sharkey fire truck. Westie, Westfield's kangaroo, kept the children busy and even the SJPD's bloodhound was curious. Hamburgers and hotdogs were barbecued by the fire department and donated by the San Jose Peace Officers Association for the event.

In 2000, the southern division police station first opened, located next to Michael's. It moved to a trailer while the mall was renovated. The shopping center giant provided the new facility and generously leased the building to SJPD for $1 a year for public safety and the convenience of having police officers in the area. Besides the police station, Westfield has provided fund-raising for the community and has landscaped distant median islands to create an attractive gateway to the mall.

“Westfield has always been about community, customer service and quality retail,” commented Lynne Rice, senior marketing director for Westfield Shoppingtown Valley Fair/Oakridge. “The grand re-opening of the new community policing center will provide essential services to the community in San Jose. We value the community partnership with Vice Mayor Patricia Dando, Councilmember Forrest Williams, Lt. Richard Calderon and the entire San Jose Police Department.”

The new police station re-opening is a collaboration of many components. Westfield's Larry Green, vice president of development, acknowledges that before the purchase of Oakridge, the corporation conducted market research and found that it was a sound place to invest money and do business. They found tireless advocates for the policing center project with Vice Mayor Dando, Councilmember Williams and Lt. Calderon.

“Public safety is the most important aspect in all our lives,” said Dando.

“Without public safety, everything else pales in comparison. San Jose is the safest city with a population over 500,000. This does not happen by accident.”

The advantages of a local substation exemplify a commitment by SJPD to be a strong force in the neighborhood. Through a variety of services to the public to having a strong police presence in the area, the substation's priority is availability. There's a meeting room for the public to use for neighborhood associations and a children's area to keep little hands busy. Within minutes, computers can access local sex offenders living in an area, all professionally assisted by officers on duty and Volunteer Opportunities & Leadership [VOLT] staffers. The comfortable setting provides a room for officers to complete reports. On duty officers offer assistance filling out missing person flyers and identity theft forms.

“It's an exciting time for the substation,” said Lt. Calderon, liaison for the SJPD and a 25-year veteran of the force, said at the end of the dedication. “We are proud to be more accessible to the public and offering services in the neighborhood. Without your help we could not do our job. You are our eyes and ears. This community center is dedicated to you. ”

San Jose Police Department

Southern Division Community Policing Center

947 Blossom Hill Road
San Jose, Calif., 95123
[408] 360-8350

Office Hours

MWF 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
T, Th 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed Sundays

Available Services

-Accident and crime reports taken
-Questions answered regarding your community
-Information and referrals for other service agencies
-Traffic citation sign-off
-Neutral ground for court-ordered custody exchanges
-Acceptance of evidence
-Maps and directions
-Fingerprinting of children and the elderly
-Megan's Law database access
-Voluntary surrender of weapons and ammunition
-Information on crime prevention
-Meeting room for neighborhood associations and other nonprofit organizations

For fingerprinting and child car seat inspections, please call ahead and schedule an appointment [408] 277-4133.

For emergency calls from a cell phone, dial [408] 277-8911.

From a home phone, dial 911 for emergency calls. Non-emergency calls dial 311.

Information on volunteering as a VOLT staffer can be obtained by calling [408] 277-8658.