We’re not ready to endorse Mayor Shayne Gallo’s notion to locate a police precinct in Midtown Kingston, but we applaud him for zeroing in on the safety of our city.

The mayor is exploring the purchase of a vacant bank building at Broadway and Henry Street to provide Midtown with greater police presence.

The cost would be considerable – the site is assessed at $1.7 million – and the property would come off the tax rolls – current bills amount to $34,352.

But Gallo believes a police precinct in Midtown would revitalize the area, attract more taxpaying businesses and increase the value of neighboring properties.

Indeed, as we’ve noted in this space, the perception of crime in this city, particularly Midtown, has instilled fear in many Kingstonians. No doubt it’s caused second thoughts among those thinking of locating here. If nothing else, creating a police precinct will provide a symbolic, if not actual, sense of increased safety.

That’s one of the reasons why we were favorably inclined to the recent announcement of the establishment of a Kingston Police Youth Bureau at the Hodge Center on Franklin Street.

But that center may render unnecessary an entirely separate precinct. We want to hear more specifics from Gallo and Police Chief Tinti on how they envision policing in Midtown were there to be two facilities.

Moreover, the costs beyond those affiliated with the initial purchase of a precinct building must be detailed, in particular, renovation, maintenance and staffing.

We’d also like to learn from police experts if precincts such as this one might serve to clean up one neighborhood at the expense of others. That is to say, if there’s a precinct on Broadway, will it invite criminals to do their business in other parts of the city?

Again, we’re open to the Gallo proposal. We’re pleased he’s thinking creatively, and we await the specifics regarding its potential.

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