NEW HOME FOR CITY POLICE-The Cookeville Housing Authority has donated the use of one of its public housing units in Celina to house the city police department. On hand for the official announcement last week were (l-r) city police chief Danny Monday, Celina mayor Buddy Thompson and Cookeville Housing Authority executive director Dow Harris. (Staff photo by Kevin Donaldson)

By KEVIN DONALDSON

CELINA-The city police department has a new home here, thanks to an arrangement with the Cookeville Housing Authority (CHA).

CHA has donated the use of one of its public housing units here as a station for the city police department. 

The new police station is located at 313 Green Street, just a short distance away from the city square, and also a short drive from city hall.

Dow Harris, executive director for CHA, was in Celina last Thursday and met with police chief Danny Monday and mayor Buddy Thompson on the new move. 

“We really appreciate the city of Celina here,” Harris said, adding the CHA has a police station or substation located in every community the organization serves. 

“When there is a police presence in a neighborhood, in makes a big difference in the safety and security of the surrounding area,” Harris said. “It’s a big plus for the whole community.

“Residents in these neighborhoods and communities can get to know the officers on a personal basis, and that helps build trust,” he said.

Thompson thanked the CHA for its help in locating an expanded facility for the department. “This will be a good headquarters for our police force, and a good place for them to complete all the paperwork that is a big part of their jobs,” Thompson said.

Monday also thanked the CHA for their help. “Going from a one-room situation (at city hall) to a full-sized facility is going to help us tremendously,” Monday said. “We really appreciate the housing authority giving us this opportunity.”

The CHA has 549 conventional public housing units, located in Algood, Baxter, Celina, Cookeville, Gainesboro and Monterey, according to its website, and also has an 80-unit apartment village in Cookeville. It was established in October of 1952 and construction began on its first low-income housing development in 1957. 

The CHA mission statement is to “provide safe, decent, and affordable housing; create opportunities for resident’s self-sufficiency and economic independence; and assure fiscal integrity by all program participants,” the website says.