A grant from Binghamton University is being used to pay for a more visible police presence in the heart of the Johnson City business district.

Village Mayor Martin Meaney said the university is providing $94,000 to fund a dedicated police patrol in the area of its Health Sciences Campus on Corliss Avenue. The officer also will concentrate on a neighborhood north of the campus, including Main Street and Broad Street.

The mayor said part of the grant will also support the installation of a new system to replace parking meters with a system enabling payment using an app or kiosks.

Meaney said the university "will take care of the salary for the police officer" on an ongoing basis.

Johnson City police chief Brent Dodge said community engagement officer Jay Peets is scheduled to start his foot and bike patrols in the downtown district on Monday.

Dodge said Peets has been with the village police department for about five years.

The chief said the special patrolling should help improve the "quality of life" for students and young professionals in the neighborhood. He said he hopes it will have a "significant impact" on downtown Johnson City.

In addition to the visible patrols, Peets is to hold community meetings around the village and conduct outreach programs in the Johnson City School District.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

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