Elmwood Park announces Broadway police substation with Inserra ShopRite support

The Elmwood Park mayor and council heard on Jan. 22 that the borough has reached an agreement to open a police substation in the Elmwood Shopping Center above the Chase Bank.

Police Chief Michael Foligno said talks with the property owner and with Inserra ShopRite—who operate the supermarket in the center—have culminated in a plan to build the substation. “An agreement with the landlord has been reached and construction of the substation is scheduled to begin in late spring,” Foligno said, adding that Inserra ShopRite will bear the majority of construction and rental costs.

Foligno framed the project as a public-safety and community-confidence measure, saying the substation will provide “a sustained and visible police presence serving as a deterrent to crime and fostering a safer environment for residents and shoppers alike.” He also told the council the financial impact on the borough will be minimal because of ShopRite’s commitment.

Council President Lorraine Pellegreen and other council members praised the multi-year effort to secure the site. Pellegreen said the initiative has been under discussion since 2019 and credited persistence and cooperation between the police department, the council and business partners for finally making it happen.

Mayor Robert Coletti said the substation addresses safety needs in a corridor with several major highways and high pedestrian activity. Council members noted anticipated benefits for shoppers and local businesses and said the arrangement could improve nighttime safety in the area.

Foligno said the project is the result of renegotiations and local partnerships and that construction is expected to start in late spring. The council did not vote on the substation during the meeting; Foligno and Pellegreen said they would continue coordination with the landlord and with borough staff about implementation details.