BELLEVILLE POST
VOL. 36 NO. 26
MAY 2026
ESSEXNEWSDAILY.COM
Substation set up in Silver Lake
Officer of the Year
— See Page 3
Stations of the Cross
— See Page 4
Bucs dig up great start
— See Page 22
BELLEVILLE — The mayor and chief of police have wanted to open a permanent substation for emergency responders in the Silver Lake neighborhood for a long time. Chief Mark Minichini said that he had been working on getting the substation since he became chief, which was about nine years ago. “I know high visibility reduces crime and it makes the community want to partner with the police department,” Minichini said. . Two years ago, Mayor Michael Melham announced plans to open a substation in the Silver Lake neighborhood. After many planning sessions decided the exact location and the services that would be provided, the township is now moving forward with extensive renovations to 191 Belmont Ave., which will become the location of Belleville’s first emergency response substation, according to a press release from the township. The site, to open next year following extensive renovations, will primarily host the Belleville Police Department, but would also provide services from the Public Works Department, Health Department and other key municipal operations such as code enforcement. Minichini said the substation, near the NJ Transit light rail station, will focus on local quality-of-life issues, such as burglaries, homelessness, graffiti and other petty crimes. Police will also work with other municipal officials to better address code enforcement in the Silver Lake neighborhood, while also building stronger connections with residents and businesses, he said. The township has signed a 10-year lease for the two-story property, which includes a sizable parking lot. Minichini noted the township will aggressively seek grants and other outside funding to support this broad initiative. The chief said he is a believer in community policing, which is a strategy that
Photos Courtesy of Belleville Twp.
The building above, which had fallen out of use, is being leased by the township for a police substation that will also house other township departments. Below, police have already set up a mobile command post at the scene.
promotes organizational partnerships between law enforcement and community members to proactively address the causes of crime, safety issues, and quality-oflife problems. “Interacting with the community, rather than reacting when they have a crime or a problem, be involved in a partnership from the start,” Minichini said. While the building undergoes renovation, a mobile precinct has been set up at
the site and four people have been working out of it since March 30. We are operational,” Minichini said. “We are not going to wait for the building to get done.” Minichini credits Township Manager Brian Banda with selecting the site. “He recommended it and asked if it worked,” Minichini said. “And I said yes and we are trying it. So far, so good.” See SUBSTATION, Page 2
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