Midland police are now providing a safer way for residents to swap online purchases and conduct custodial exchanges.
The Safe Exchange Zone initiative was created to provide citizens a safe place to exchange items that were purchased online via services such as Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook, and allow families with visitation rights to make custodial exchanges safely.
The Safe Exchange Zone is located on the south side of the MPD’s public parking lot, located at 601 N. Loraine Street. The zone is clearly marked with three designated parking spaces and signage. The area is available for the public to use 24/7 for legitimate exchanges and is under video surveillance at all times. While the area is well lit, MPD encourages citizens to utilize the zone during the day.
“This Safe Exchange Zone provides a monitored location that will offer citizens peace of mind,” Lt. Alfredo Grimaldo said. “Similar Safe Exchange Zones have been implemented in other departments with overwhelming success.”
There are several cities and police departments throughout Texas that have created a Safe Exchange Zone including San Antonio, Arlington, Round Rock, and Pearland. The zone is expected to help conserve police resources by minimizing calls for patrol at child custody exchanges.
MPD’s Safe Exchange Zone cannot be used to make illegal transactions of narcotics, dangerous or deadly weapons or any other dangerous materials. MPD employees cannot act as witnesses or be a part of any transactions, and all exchanges are still conducted at the citizen’s risk.
###Media Contact: Lt. Alfredo Grimaldo