Cape Girardeau dedicates Willis A. Martin Police Substation on Good Hope Street

KBSI FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — City leaders, community members and the Blank family gathered Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the Willis A. Martin Police Substation, a new public safety facility at 629 Good Hope Street.

The project is part of a yearslong effort to revitalize the neighborhood, with the Blank family playing a leading role in redeveloping the area. Chamber officials said the substation will not only enhance safety for residents but also encourage new business and investment along Good Hope Street.

The substation is named in honor of Willis A. Martin, a Cape Girardeau police officer who was killed in the line of duty on Good Hope Street in 1921.

The substation’s opening represents both a tribute to the city’s past and an investment in its future. It is intended to provide a visible law enforcement presence in the neighborhood while symbolizing the city’s commitment to building safer, stronger communities.