New Law Enforcement Center On the Way

Town officials are moving forward with plans for a $6 million Law Enforcement Center that would provide much needed space for the town's highly regarded police force.

Plans call for adding a 19,000-sq.ft. two-story building to the existing 5,000-sq.ft. police headquarters downtown, which will be renovated. Officials hope construction can begin as early as next summer.

"We are, quite frankly, bursting at the seams," Town Manager Steve Biggs told the Town Council. "For the last few years, we've paid a lot of attention to our law enforcement personnel, and now we're at a point where we need to look at facilities."

The complex will be financed through a low-interest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development loan.

"I'm glad to see we're moving a step closer," said Councilman Michael Grannis.

Police headquarters presently sits on a 1.18-acre site at the corner of S. Barbour and E. Second Streets. Two other buildings on the site, the old Fire Station and old Rescue building, will be demolished to make way for the new construction.

Biggs said officials intend for the new complex to be "a contributing structure to the downtown environment" that will enhance the beauty of downtown.

Town officials have been working over the last few years to strengthen the police department, adding programs and capabilities as well as encouraging officers to obtain advanced training. As a result, the town has what Biggs described as "a first-rate police department." Last year, the department added a Forensics specialist, formed a Community Action Team (CAT), added several new Neighborhood Watch programs, added a new "Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) laser radar and scene mapping device," initiated the new "Crime Stoppers" program and three more officers earned their "Advanced Law Enforcement" certificates. In addition, violent crime was down 37 percent, and even traffic accidents and citations were down.