Tripoli Police Substation Dedicated to Lifelong Framingham Resident

On a rainy Monday afternoon, with a large crowd from the neighborhood, Framingham Police opened the Tripoli neighborhood community police sub station.

The station located in the former Tripoli Barbershop, will be open during commuter hours in the morning and afternoon and several hours at night, said Framingham Police Chief Ken Ferguson.

As the weather improves, there will be walking patrols and bicycle patrols, added Ferguson.

Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin said the opening of the substation is an expansion of Ferguson's community police program.

"This community-centered method of policing will increase police visibility in this neighborhood," said Halpin.

He said the police sub station will be a "vehicle for a tighter bond between the Framingham police and the Framingham community."

"This substation will allow officers within the police department to have a much much tighter relationship" with the neighborhood, added Halpin. 

The station will give the police the "ability to disseminate information more readily and more importantly for people to talk to us to about what their needs are in neighborhood surrounding this location" said Halpin.

"The opening of a community policing station on this site is an important addition to the neighborhood," said Framingham Selectmen Chair Dennis Giombetti. "Since the Tripoli Barbershop moved to their location a few blocks away I have been working with the Police Chief and Lee Mencoboni, the 
owner of La Cantina and this property to make it a community policing substation."

Giombetti said he was very proud that "his last official act as a Selectman will be this ceremony. It merges my long standing efforts to invest in public safety and my love for the neighborhood where my father and I grew up."

Giombetti, during the dedication, said the neighborhood was a great Italian neighborhood to grow up in, but that it has changed over the years. He said the neighborhood is still a "great neighborhood to raise a family," and just needs a little "tender loving care."

Editor's note: I live in the neighborhood, located south of Route 135, near the Ashland line.

Giombetti thanked Mencoboni, "who offered this building rent free for the community." (The restaurant is located across the street from the substation.) "Lee been a leader in this neighborhood and grew up in this neighborhood," said Giombetti

Giombetti also thanks Chief Ferguson, who was "all in from the very beginning. He saw the real value of having this substation."

Ferguson, in turn, thanked Giombetti for his efforts in the neighborhood by announcing the substation will be named after him. Giombetti's last day as a Framingham Selectman is today, April 1. He served nine years on the board.

"To say that Dennis is an advocate for public safety is an understatement," said Ferguson. "Words alone can not describe our appreciation for his leadership and support of public safety. The dedication and commitment to Framingham has greatly enhanced the safety of those who live and work here."