Construction is set to start later this year on a new police station in east Wichita, after the city council approved the project Tuesday.
The $7 million, 23,000-square-foot station will go up next to the current substation on Edgemoor near Kellogg.
Police Chief Gordon Ramsay told council members the old station, built in 1989, is the oldest in the city.
“The city limits have changed substantially since then, as well as that patrol area," he said. "Currently there’re over 100 officers that work out of that space that was initially designed for about 30.”
The department conducted a facility study in 2017 to gauge the needs for a modern station. Ramsay says the current building has limited workstations, lockers, and private interview rooms, and can’t accommodate current or new technology.
“This building will modernize operations, and create a welcoming and professional community-centered facility," Ramsay said. "And I know this building will make us more effective, efficient and operationally superior.”
Plans for the new station are included in the current Capital Improvement Program budget. The city will post a Request for Proposals for a design.
Part of Cypress Park to the north will be used for the new building; the Park Board had to agree to the construction. The new building will include 17 public parking spaces for park visitors.
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