NEW COP SHOP PLEASES LOCALS

Lakeshore Blvd. W. Sub-Station One Of Only 2 In City

The sight of prostitutes and drug dealers trolling Lakeshore Blvd.
W. doesn't draw many stares.

But a shiny new sign announcing Toronto Police have opened up shop
on the notorious Etobicoke stretch stopped many area residents in
their tracks yesterday.

"I feel safer with it here," said Chantel Roberts, 19, just leaving
the home of her teenage brothers, who live near the new storefront
station at 2698 Lakeshore Blvd. W., near Islington Ave.

"Late at night it's really bad out here. There are drunks,
crackheads and drug dealers," she said.

Passersby peered at the glass front of 22 Division's newest
sub-station, which opened Thursday. One of only two in the city --
the other is on the CNE grounds -- it has two officers on duty from
7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Locals poked their heads inside.

"There are quite a few people walking in saying how grateful they
are we're here," Const. Ed Soron said from his desk at the front of
the spacious platoon, which smells of fresh paint and boasts a
community room. "Lots of kids have been dropping by. It
makes everyone feel safer."

That's what Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes had hoped to accomplish
when he appealed to then-police chief Julian Fantino 18 months ago
and vowed to secure funding to open the cop shop.

"It's great to bring it to the community," he said, noting the
building was formerly an "eyesore" flea market. "This is just what
the doctor ordered."

While some residents say the area is riddled with drug dealers after
dark, Grimes says there are no plans to man the station at night.
Police from 22 Division patrol, he said, and the sub-station is a
temporary office to be shut down when a multimillion-dollar police
college opens nearby in about three years.

Soron said police presence had been lacking in the area since 21 and
22 Divisions amalgamated a few years ago and the 21 Division station closed.

Over the last three days, residents have been quick to give police
at the new shop information about local crimes, he said, whereas
many didn't bother when they had to trek to the jurisdiction's main
station at 3699 Bloor St. W.

"Just by knowing we're here, (criminals) are probably going to move
to another area," the sub-station's only permanent employee said.

They may have already gotten the message, said Mike Holmes, manager
of Lakeshore Village Flowers, which is across from the station.

"The street people have already moved on," he said.