Police now have company

PRINCETON — The Princeton Police Department will have a new neighbor, a computer geared to work on space flight issues.

At Tuesday’s meeting in city hall, the Princeton City Council entered into an agreement with Tetra Research Corporation to provide room and electricity at the Princeton police station building for the research company’s new computer. The new seven-foot computer case is already on-site at the police station building and the internal workings of the computer will be shipped to Princeton next week.

Tetra Research President Rex Chamberlain attended Tuesday’s Princeton City Council meeting at city hall. Tetra Research provides research, development and consulting services for space projects with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, in Huntsville, Ala.

Chamberlain, who received his doctorate in aerospace engineering in 1984 from the University of Illinois, said his 10-year-old company was formerly located in Huntsville, Ala. Chamberlain and his wife, the former Ami Hollingsworth of Princeton, moved back to Princeton about 18 months ago.

Princeton’s technological advancements, specifically in the areas of broadband over power lines and fiber optics, was a definite drawing card when looking for a place to relocate his business, Chamberlain said.

On Wednesday, Chamberlain said he will continue to operate his business from his home office, with just the new computer station and case housed in the Princeton police station building. The separate room is a secure location and also houses some data information for the area hospital, he said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Terry Madsen expressed his support of the city’s agreement with Tetra Research Corporation. The agreement was made possible through work by the city’s Internet supplier, I.V. Net, and the city’s electric department, he said.

“This is a great business opportunity for the city and another opportunity for the city to serve unique and exciting businesses,” Madsen said.

On Wednesday, Mayor Keith Cain agreed that this agreement with Tetra Research Corporation is a good thing for the city.

“It’s the reason we put in the fiber optic background and entered into a partnership with I.V. Net ... to be able to attract more businesses to Princeton,” Cain said. “This will take just a small portion of the space available out there. There will be no space or security issues with the police station.”

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