Distant dream of LEC now a reality for WR police

kriner@sunmulti.com

For many in the City of Warner Robins, the thought of a new

law enforcement center was a distant dream that just couldn’t take hold. On

Thursday, the proof was seen by the 30 people gathered to tour the nearly

completed facility on Watson Boulevard.

The state-of-the-art facility is just week away from housing

some of Warner Robins finest. The 42,000 square-foot building is a far cry from

the almost 50-year-old police station that Warner Robins Police has been

calling home.

Bathrooms galore, a roll call room that seats 84 people, a

state of the art crime forensics lab are just some of the upgrades. The view

from the upstairs bay window isn’t too bad either.

Tabitha Pugh, Warner Robins Police spokeswoman, said the new

law enforcement center means safety and efficiently.

The nearly $9.5 million project is just short of completion,

only lacking furniture and some landscaping, with paving underway.

Redevelopment Agency executive director Gary Lee said he expects a ribbon

cutting to be held at the end of April.

The funding source for the project came from the 2006 and

2012 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes.

Architect for JMA Architecture Jim Mehserle said the

building represents the historic outlay of the city and its correlation with

Robins Air Force Base. {{more}}

Mehserle noted throughout the tour that the new building is

equipped with safety features and technology. He said it was major step up and

will provide a safe environment for all in the building.

The law enforcement center is two stories tall. The public

entrance, records division, evidence storage, patrol unit and sally port are

all the lower level. The evidence area is the single largest area in the

building. Police officials said that is much needed space to accommodate the

department’s need for the storage of evidence.

Mehserle pointed out the sally port and said it was a secure

area for officers to transport subjects into the police department without

giving them room to run.

A new feature that the Warner Robins Police will see is K-9

kennels. Currently K-9 handlers leave their K-9’s in their patrol cars while

the officers go into the department to do paperwork or briefing.

The kennels have indoor and outdoor access with air

conditioning on the inside.

On the second story, a forensics lab takes up the majority

of the space, but administration as well as detectives will find a home on the

second floor as well.

HHJ News