MOUNT HERMON �” Washington Parish Sheriff Robert Crowe came through with one of the campaign promises he made to voters during last year’s election, and Mt. Hermon now has a WPSO substation.

The substation, outfitted with a phone, fax machine, television and a pair of desks, will be used by deputies to conduct interviews and handle paperwork as well as act as a base of operations for the sheriff’s office in northwest Washington Parish.

About a dozen people, including state Rep. Harold Ritchie and parish leaders, showed up for the substation’s ribbon-cutting Monday morning.

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“It’s a presence in the community,” Crowe said. “Everybody’s just glad to see it.”

The station is the first of it’s kind ever in the Mt. Hermon area, and the first new substation for WPSO in decades. The only other substation is in Bogalusa, officials said. Angie used to have a substation, but it was discontinued more than 20 years ago.

The Mt. Hermon substation is located in the same building as Brooks General Store, which contains a gas station, convenience store and restaurant.

Owner David Brooks was on hand for the ribbon cutting. He said it’s a good thing to have the substation connected to his building, and he’s not charging WPSO to rent the space, which used to house a beauty salon. About the only thing costing taxpayers to operate the substation is the electricity bill, Crowe added.

Washington Parish Fire District 9, headquartered in a building directly behind the substation, will share a generator in times of a devastating storm or other emergency, Crowe said. State troopers will also have access to the new station, officials said.

The substation has been in operation for a few months, but only recently had lettering painted on the window. Mt. Hermon, an area of the parish that is growing, is still learning that the new substation is now in operation, officials said.

“This is just a start,” Crowe said, adding he has plans for another substation in the Isabel area.