City unveils ‘safe zone’ for online and child custody exchanges

Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy explains the new Safe Exchange Zone Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 at the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga Police Department has established a Safe Exchange Zone in the parking lot in front of the Police Service Center on Amnicola Highway, so people who are buying or selling items online have a safe location to meet and exchange money for goods. Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy explains the new Safe Exchange Zone Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 at the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga Police Department has established a Safe Exchange Zone in the parking lot in front of the Police Service Center on Amnicola Highway, so people who are buying or selling items online have a safe location to meet and exchange money for goods.

By Tim Omarzu December 27, 2017 3 min read

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‘Safe zone’ established in Chattanooga police station parking lot for those who trade on Internet

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke talks about the new Safe Exchange Zone Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 at the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Safe Exchange Zone is located in the parking lot of the Police Service Center where two parking spaces are marked off with green paint and are monitored by police officers in the Real Time Intelligence Center inside the building.

Two parking spaces deemed a Safe Exchange Zone are marked off with green paint Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in front of the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga Police Department has established a Safe Exchange Zone in the parking lot in front of the Police Service Center on Amnicola Highway, so people who are buying or selling items online have a safe location to meet and exchange money for goods.

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke discusses the new Safe Exchange Zone Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 at the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga Police Department has established a Safe Exchange Zone in the parking lot in front of the Police Service Center on Amnicola Highway, so people who are buying or selling items online have a safe location to meet and exchange money for goods.

Chattanooga Police Department Sgt. Scott Bales talks about the idea behind the new Safe Exchange Zone Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 at the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Safe Exchange Zone is located in the parking lot of the Police Service Center where two parking spaces are marked off with green paint and are monitored by police officers in the Real Time Intelligence Center inside the building.

Cameras are located on the front side of the Police Service Center Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The cameras monitor the new Safe Exchange Zone which is located in the parking lot of the Police Service Center where two parking spaces are marked off with green paint.

Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy points to the screen where the new Safe Exchange Zone is shown Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017 in the Real Time Intelligence Center at the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga Police Department has established a Safe Exchange Zone in the parking lot in front of the Police Service Center on Amnicola Highway, so people who are buying or selling items online have a safe location to meet and exchange money for goods.

A sign indicating a Safe Exchange Zone is located in front of the Police Service Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Chattanooga Police Department has established a "Safe Exchange Zone" in the parking lot in front of the Police Service Center on Amnicola Highway, so people who are buying or selling items online have a safe location to meet and exchange money for goods.

If the idea of completing a deal with a stranger on Craigslist or some other e-commerce site worries you, there’s a new “safe exchange zone” for that at the Chattanooga Police Service Center at 3410 Amnicola Highway.

The city spent about $20,000 to designate two parking spaces and a portion of the parking lot along Amnicola and to install security cameras.

The setup will record real-life meetings of people who met online to buy, sell or trade items, along with child custody exchanges.

“What’s a better safe place than right in front of the [police station]?” Chattanooga Police Department Chief David Roddy asked last Wednesday afternoon at a press conference with Mayor Andy Berke to unveil the safe space.

“We have suffered a few of these crimes here in Chattanooga,” Roddy said, though he didn’t have exact numbers.