New Safe Exchange Zone opens outside Radnor Police Dept.
RADNOR >> On March 28, a custody exchange turned deadly at a Wawa store in Radnor. While that might be the worst possible outcome when individuals meet to do business, be it personal or commercial, the Radnor Township Police Department now offers a safe space just outside its doors.
Sgt. Joe Maguire suggested the Safe Exchange Zone in the parking lot at 301 Iven Ave., which is monitored by cameras 247. Although an officer will not always be outside, police do patrol the area frequently. And a secondary area is available inside the lobby of the police station, said Superintendent Chris Flanagan. A telephone inside automatically calls
911.
Other advice is: Do not go to a location alone; make sure to notify a family member or friend that you are purchasing or selling an item at the desired location; insist on the exchange location to be public; never inside a home or building; and trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
“We’re very excited about it,” said Flanagan. “I think it’s a great option for the community.”
Other uses could be to drop off important documents like a will or a big check to a contractor, Flanagan said. They ask that people either park or stand between the marked-off location so the security camera picks up their images. The site is open to anyone, he said.
Maguire said that when he learned that other police departments across the country have similar spots to ensure the safety of their citizens, he thought that Radnor should, too.
“Everybody is on the internet anymore,” Maguire said. “We’ve certainly heard the horror stories. Between that and the child custody issues, it seemed like it was a good thing for the residents of Radnor.”
Bad things can happen “even in a nice area like Radnor,” Maguire said. He had already observed people make child custody exchanges near the police department.
“This would be a better way to manage, coming to a safe spot, knowing that it’s under surveillance provides a safer feeling for everyone involved,” Maguire said.