The Traverse City Police Department opened a new substation Friday at 128 West State Street, which will provide a dedicated presence for the force in downtown Traverse City.

The TCPD and TC Downtown Development Authority (DDA) partnered in 2019 to split the cost of a downtown community policing officer. In 2023, the DDA began fully funding the position currently held by Officer Jonathan Culver.

"A goal of mine since becoming chief of police has been to find Officer Culver a permanent place within the DDA boundaries," TCPD Chief Matt Richmond said in a statement. "After many attempts, we have located a place that will not only provide Officer Culver with an office downtown, but also benefit the community as a whole."

In addition to Culver, all TCPD officers will be able to utilize the substation "to further the department’s community policing philosophies," according to a TCPD release. "The substation will allow officers to integrate more into the community, provide additional Officer presence downtown, and reduce response times to areas of the city. The substation will not be open to the public, but it will have all the amenities for officers to complete reports, conduct follow-up investigations, and provide a safe space for breaks or meals."

Richmond said the new substation means the community "will see more officers in and around the downtown district." The substation property is one of several the city purchased in 2023 for a planned third parking deck downtown, a project that was later tabled.