Hampton police open new substation at Buckroe Beach this weekend
HPD partnered with the Hopeful Hampton collaborative to create the Shoreline Operations Station. The station will be a central satellite post near the pavilion that will combine the two groups' functions by having police officers on site while also offering information city programs such as youth violence prevention and law enforcement careers.
Additionally, the new station's policing capabilities will include processing charges against law violators and issuing summonses for parents of children engaging in delinquent behavior. The station opened this weekend and will operate throughout the summer.
Hampton normally has school resource officers patrolling the beaches during the summer, according to HPD spokesperson Shaun Stalnaker. However, this year, the city is seeing incidents before school has dismissed for the year.
'This will be the first time we partner up and do it all at the same time together,' Stalnaker said. 'It's just, we're starting a little bit earlier this year as opposed to waiting until the school resource officers go out there.'
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One such incident of disorderly conduct at Buckroe Beach includes a 400-person 'pop-up party' this month that led to several fights on the beach, according to WTKR reporting. However, Stalnaker noted this initiative is not a direct response to that episode.
Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell said in a statement the additional resources at Buckroe will help quell any potential incidents as the summer heats up.
'This initiative combines proactive community support with firm enforcement to ensure everyone can safely enjoy our public assets,' Bell said in the statement.
The substation will be manned from noon to 8 p.m. on the weekends until school resource officers get out of school June 15. After that, it will be manned daily during those hours through Labor Day.
However, Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities Director and Hopeful Hampton member, Latiesha Handie, added in a statement this substation is not meant to criminalize young people's fun. It's meant to ensure that fun remains safe for everyone.
'Our young people thrive when they feel seen, supported and safe,' Handie said in the statement. 'This initiative not only reinforces public safety, but also creates an opportunity for positive engagement between youth, families and community resources.'
Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com
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