Mayor Arlen Thompson (center) is joined by Chief Ron Anderson, other Louisburg Police Officers and representatives from Teague Construction, for a ribbon cutting at the police department’s new building at 209 S. Metcalf Road. The department moved into its new location Thursday and had an open house for the public Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Kristen Waggener / kwaggener@miconews.com)
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Police station unveiled on Metcalf
Residents gather for dedication, tour facility
By Kristen Waggener, kwaggener@miconews.com
When Edith Elliott first moved to Louisburg, there was one policeman: Cliff Caswell.
In fact, he was the policeman, water man and fire chief, just to name a few.
So when Elliott took a tour of the Louisburg Police Department’s new station at 209 S. Metcalf Road on Monday afternoon, there was certainly some change since she first came to the community.
“We’ve come a long way, baby!” Elliott told the officers standing inside the front doors.
“All the offices are very nice, and the work is very nice,” she said.
Elliott was one of dozens of residents to tour the building in the department’s open house.
Officer David Sander led a group of about 15 through the wide hallways of the station, pointing out the features of his new building.
There’s the administrative offices for each of the sergeants on staff, the report writing rooms equipped with computers and desks, Chief Ron Anderson’s office featuring work space and a conference table, a kitchen, armory, sally port for securely entering the building in a patrol car, a large training area with desks and chairs, and two holding areas, where officers can temporarily place suspects before taking them to the county jail.
“They’ve got room for what they need now and what they need tomorrow,” said Bob Leedham, who toured the building Monday. “It’s nice they didn’t overlook some of the spaces, like the conference rooms.”
Some came to see what their tax dollars were spent on, while others came to see the city’s newest renovated building. The city spent about $450,000 to renovate the building from its former function as the old fire department into the multi-functional police station.
“We were curious just like everybody else,” Betty Cardwell said as she and her husband, Gene, left after seeing the new space. “It’s a whole lot better than the other one.”
The police department was previous housed in the Plaza Office Complex at 5 S. Peoria St. in a space far too small for the department to properly function.
“It’s completely different from where we were,” Anderson said.
The department moved into its new space Thursday.
“I think it’s big and pretty,” said 8-year-old Isabella Dubas.
One thing was evident as residents filed in and out of the doors and through the reception area at the front of the building: it’s a space the police can use now and grow into in the future.
“I think it’s great for the police department,” said Patsy Bortner, a Louisburg resident and director of the Louisburg Chamber of Commerce. “It will serve them well for the future.”
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In fact, he was the policeman, water man and fire chief, just to name a few.
So when Elliott took a tour of the Louisburg Police Department’s new station at 209 S. Metcalf Road on Monday afternoon, there was certainly some change since she first came to the community.
“We’ve come a long way, baby!” Elliott told the officers standing inside the front doors.
“All the offices are very nice, and the work is very nice,” she said.
Elliott was one of dozens of residents to tour the building in the department’s open house.
Officer David Sander led a group of about 15 through the wide hallways of the station, pointing out the features of his new building.
There’s the administrative offices for each of the sergeants on staff, the report writing rooms equipped with computers and desks, Chief Ron Anderson’s office featuring work space and a conference table, a kitchen, armory, sally port for securely entering the building in a patrol car, a large training area with desks and chairs, and two holding areas, where officers can temporarily place suspects before taking them to the county jail.
“They’ve got room for what they need now and what they need tomorrow,” said Bob Leedham, who toured the building Monday. “It’s nice they didn’t overlook some of the spaces, like the conference rooms.”
Some came to see what their tax dollars were spent on, while others came to see the city’s newest renovated building. The city spent about $450,000 to renovate the building from its former function as the old fire department into the multi-functional police station.
“We were curious just like everybody else,” Betty Cardwell said as she and her husband, Gene, left after seeing the new space. “It’s a whole lot better than the other one.”
The police department was previous housed in the Plaza Office Complex at 5 S. Peoria St. in a space far too small for the department to properly function.
“It’s completely different from where we were,” Anderson said.
The department moved into its new space Thursday.
“I think it’s big and pretty,” said 8-year-old Isabella Dubas.
One thing was evident as residents filed in and out of the doors and through the reception area at the front of the building: it’s a space the police can use now and grow into in the future.
“I think it’s great for the police department,” said Patsy Bortner, a Louisburg resident and director of the Louisburg Chamber of Commerce. “It will serve them well for the future.”