Police Offer Parking Lot As 'Safe Exchange Zone' For Custody Swaps, Online Deals

BUENA PARK (CBSLA.com) — Looking for somewhere safe to hand over your kids to a former spouse or complete an online transaction?

Police in Buena Park have set aside space in the department's parking lot to allow residents to make transactions without fear of being mugged or ripped off.

The two designated parking spaces - which are clearly marked by signage and reflective lines on the asphalt - will remain under 24-hour surveillance, according to Buena Park police Sgt. Mike Lovchik.

The idea was hatched after an officer in the department heard that a northern California city had created a safe spot for deals and suggested doing it locally, Lovchik said.

While Buena Park is believed to be the first Orange County police agency to create a so-called safe "exchange zone", the concept is believed to have originated in Boca Raton, Florida, according to Capt. Gary Worrall.

"We designed an area for exchanges that is well lit and under video surveillance," he said. "Our officers don't get involved or monitor the transactions, but the proximity to a police station is clearly a deterrent for criminal activity."

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