The South Portland Police Department will open a new public safety office in Thornton Heights by the end of the month, according to Police Chief Dan Ahern.

The location on Main Street was chosen because of its proximity to two of the hotels in the city, Howard Johnson and Quality Inn, that are sheltering unhoused people and asylum-seekers.

“We’re working together with all stakeholders involved,” Ahern said in an interview with The Forecaster. “The people that South Portland is trying to help and accommodate as they try to become housed (and) we’re also working with our residents and business owners in addressing some of their concerns.”

Residents and businesses have complained of crime in the neighborhood, largely attributed to those being housed at the hotels. Complaints include thefts, trespassing and yelling at and threatening residents, according to a presentation made at a neighborhood meeting Feb. 25.

Howard Johnson has seen a 270% increase in police, fire and emergency services calls in 2021 compared to the 2017-19 averages, according to the presentation. While the Quality Inn saw an increase from 63 calls on average to 358 in 2021, calls have decreased by 25% through the first two months of 2022.

At the new office, residents will be able to file police reports and speak with officers. Details about the operation and schedule are not yet available.

The public safety office will be located at Thornton Heights Commons at 611 Main St., a new South Portland Housing Authority complex. The housing authority set aside space for the office, which it is leasing to the city for $1.

“We received comments during the neighborhood meetings that there were crimes in the area,” said Brooks More, the agency’s director of development. “We were looking to help.”

The police chief says the satellite office will improve the department’s communication outreach.

“It is going to help us speak with the residents in that area that are experiencing some of the issues they want us to focus on,” Ahern said. “It’s going to be a benefit, I believe, for all people involved.”

Ahern, who served with the Chelmsford Police Department in Massachusetts for 28 years, said he’s seen the benefits of neighborhood police offices first hand. One located in the northern part of Chelmsford gave residents easier access to the police department and its officers.

“The police department was really supportive and a really good partner,” More said. “They’ve been really excellent about being proactive about getting it up and running.”

Thornton Heights Commons was completed in December and features 25 one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom apartments. Roughly 80% of the apartments are subsidized, and the other 20% are at market rate.

It also includes the first-floor office along with commercial spaces, which the housing authority hopes to fill late this summer, More said.