The city of Fairhope is expanding its efforts in Community Policing, adding to regular patrol activities at the beach park and pier, throughout the downtown area and at the Fairhopers’ Community Park on Church Street.

“Beginning immediately, we have a new assignment, a public assistance officer who will specifically cover these areas in the early afternoon and throughout the evening,” said Police Chief Mike Comalander. “This new patrol will be an extra set of eyes and ears and will be in addition to the regular patrols that now police these areas.”

Mayor Tim Kant said the increased efforts are to ensure that Fairhope stays a safe community.

“We want our residents to feel safe when they walk in the park or downtown after hours and know that their children are safe there, too. By increasing our patrol, we are taking a proactive stance for the safety and protection of our community.”

The added patrol will also help keep an eye on public art and downtown shops, he said, and will assist in policing downtown parking.

“We strongly encourage anyone who is going to be downtown for more than an hour or so, such as students, shop owners, or people who work downtown, to park in the public parking lots so that the on-street parking is more available for shoppers and people eating in our restaurants,” Kant said.

As part of the new police efforts, the community park on Church Street (across the street from the Fairhope K-1 Center) and the public restrooms in the park will be locked between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“We have had some complaints from parents about older teens using this park after hours; it’s really designed for little children, and we think that by closing it at night, we’ll keep it safer and cleaner for the younger children,” Comalander said.

One parent called the Fairhope Courier office last week and said a middle-schooler brought a pellet gun to the Fairhopers’ Community Park and threatened to harm others.

Cpl. Craig Sawyer said the teen was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and released to parental custody. The case will be heard in juvenile court in Bay Minette, Sawyer said.

The weapon the student was carrying, according to Sawyer, was an Airsoft replica firearm.

“They fire small paint balls or plastic pellets and are designed for competitions,” Sawyer said, adding the police department uses them for training.

“They look and work like real weapons,” he said, but their maximum range (and the fire with a much lower velocity) of about 100 feet.

According to the mayor, as the city prepares to enter a new fiscal year, community policing needs are being reevaluated.

“The Police Department is identifying areas that could be a source of potential problems and that might need more police presence so that we can make the best use of our available resources.”