West Plains Police will soon set up a new substation on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus.
At last week’s executive committee meeting of the Missouri State University Board of Governors, members approved a cooperative agreement with the City of West Plains. The agreement allows the police department to establish a substation in Drago Hall, the former Drago College Store on West Main Street.
Under terms of the agreement, the university will provide, at no charge, office space, furniture, phone service and internet access for the substation in Drago Hall.
The single room office will have its own private, secure entrance, according to the agreement.
There will be no standard hours of operation for the substation; however, on-duty officers will be able to stop in at any time, thus providing a regular police presence on campus.
Both university and police department officials have said that in the future, the substation could be manned full time.
In addition, under terms of the agreement, on-duty officers can receive complimentary meals from The Sole Café at the Grizzly Lofts or at the Putnam Student Center dining hall.
The substation could open as early as May, if renovations to the facility go according to plan, officials have said.