Edison officials have put a police command center inside a local shopping center following a rise in crime in the town.

The command center is located on Oak Tree Road. Mayor Sam Joshi says the goal is to offer more visibility and to increase police patrolling.

“We’ve done so much in the police department. Right now, we have 189 police officers. We're getting several more…We've increased our manpower significantly,” Joshi says, adding, “State leadership and laws are allowing for these crimes to keep occurring.”

Police Chief Tom Bryan says that the command center will allow the department to see what is happening around the town.

“This command post ensures that we have higher visibility in the area. We can accept police reports here, also which allows it to be more convenient and easier.”

Officials say the hope is to prioritize public safety amid a rise in juvenile crime.