Clovis Police Designate 24/7 Safe Exchange Zone Outside Department Headquarters

Marked parking stalls directly in front of Clovis Police Department headquarters on Fifth Street are now officially designated as a 24/7 Safe Exchange Zone, the department announced March 13, giving residents a camera-monitored, well-lit alternative to meeting strangers alone when buying, selling, or trading goods through online marketplaces.

The stalls sit steps from the front doors of the department at 1233 Fifth Street and are monitored by surveillance cameras around the clock. Lighting is maintained overnight, making the zone usable after dark. Clovis police framed the Exchange Zone as one tool among several for safer transactions, advising people to meet in public areas, bring a companion, research items online before any deal, and limit the personal information they share with buyers or sellers.

The designation reflects a broader practice already established across Fresno. The Fresno Police Department has maintained Safe Exchange Zones at each of its five policing district substations, with locations including 3502 North Blackstone Avenue near the FAX terminal at Manchester Mall, 224 South Argyle Street, 1450 East Teague Avenue, and 3080 West Shaw Avenue. Fresno PD has also pointed to child custody exchanges as a practical use for these zones, not just commercial transactions.

Public reaction to similar programs has run from enthusiastic to skeptical. One commenter described using the Clovis station's proximity for a Craigslist sale and called it "a great addition to the community," while another who used a Safe Exchange Zone during a child custody dispute wrote that the zones "definitely don't stop nothing" when the underlying conflict is severe enough. The Clovis department has not specified whether its cameras are monitored in real time or recorded for later review, how long footage is retained, or how many stalls have been designated.

Residents can reach Clovis police at (559) 324-2800 for non-emergency matters or through the department's mobile app, listed as "Clovis PD." Emergency calls go to 911.