First police facility in Menifee opens in Cherry Hills Plaza

City of Menifee and law enforcement officials celebrate the opening of the police substation with a ribbon cutting. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

City of Menifee and law enforcement officials on Thursday celebrated the opening of the first police facility in the city.

The Menifee Police Substation is located at 28115 Bradley Road in the Cherry Hills Plaza of the Sun City community. It will operate out of a converted storefront previously occupied by a gold and coin shop. Funded by tax dollars generated through the Measure DD sales tax, the substation will be staffed by community services officers from the Riverside Sheriff's Department and will serve as the home of Menifee Crime Watch, a volunteer organization that helps police the city.

Deputies who patrol Menifee through contract with the Sheriff's Department continue to be based out of the Perris Sheriff's station, but existence of the Menifee substation will allow residents to file police reports and interact with officers at a local location.

"This substation gives Menifee police officers the ability to stay within the city to write police reports," Sgt. Kevin Lamb (left), a sergeant dedicated to Menifee patrol through Measure DD funds, said at Thursday's ceremony. "This will reduce response times and enhance our community partnership. This station will also serve as the base of our Community Crime Watch, an integral part of Menifee's public safety efforts.

"This commitment gives us the ability to staff the station with two community service officers. It has also enabled the police department to increase its support of Neighborhood Watch programs and outreach to the homeless."

Greg August, City Council member representing District 1 and the Sun City community, stressed the importance of enhanced public safety efforts because of state legislation allowing early release of criminals.

"With the growth the city of Menifee has experienced since incorporation, there has been an increased need for public safety efforts and community policing," said August (right). "With the passing of AB 109, Prop. 47 and a handful of other relaxed legislation on crime, the city and our residents have to endure the burden at the local level of closing the public safety gap by adding service, increasing visibility and improving communication."

Using funds generated through Measure DD, the City of Menifee increased its public safety budget to add four sworn officers to city patrol hours, a dedicated sergeant, a crime prevention officer, two motorcycle officers, four community service officers and one office assistant. The sworn patrol officers will join the force once additional officers graduate from the Sheriff's Academy. One of the motorcycle officers will join the force on Monday. The others, including Sgt. Lamb and crime prevention officer Deputy Frank Rice, are already on duty.

"Measure DD is a critical piece in our public safety funding," said Mayor Neil Winter. "We’re battling a repeal measure of DD, for some unknown reason. We have a limited amount of funding sources and we want to make sure we don’t lose those.

"We all know the state gas tax, SB 1, is probably going to be (repealed). In addition, the state legislation already is scrambling to find a way to take the VLF fees back. If you combine those with Measure DD, we would be looking at about $18 million in lost revenue. Our city budget is $45 million. You can do the math. We’ve got a long way to go and we need your support."

Sheriff's Captain Greg Fellows, who serves as Menifee police chief, also stressed the importance of the new substation.

"This storefront police substation is yet another tool in increasing accessibility to your police department," Fellows said. "It is a testament to the mayor and city council’s commitment to public safety in Menifee."

Menifee Mayor Neil Winter addresses an audience of local dignitaries and residents during Thursday's ceremony.

Guests tour the inside of the Menifee Police Substation during Thursday's grand opening.