LAWRENCE — Mayor Steve Collier and Lawrence Police Chief David Hofmann recently announced a proposal to build a Lawrence Police Station. When the prior location flooded in 2009, the Lawrence Police Department was moved in an emergency “temporary” re-location to the Government Center where it remains.
Mayor Steve Collier stated “The men and women of the Lawrence Police Department have been working to make this inadequate space work for far too long. The time is long past due to give our law enforcement officers and staff a headquarters that is designed and intended to be a police station.”
The proposed site for the police station is a roughly 4-acre space that includes 5140 to 5162 Post Road, a location known to local residents as the home of the now-closed Snafu Saloon. The site is central to most police run activity. It is less than a mile from 42nd and Post Rd, where the highest level of 911 calls originate.
The $12.9 million proposal includes a nearly 37,000-square-foot 2-story police station with a fully-equipped basement, a sally port for the safe transfer and processing of arrestees, a 2,000-square-foot detached police vehicle storage and suspect vehicle processing garage, and a roughly 150-space parking lot.
In addition to being a more suitable and welcoming space for the public to interact with our officers, the new Station will also have a 112-seat training room that can be used by other public safety agencies and by community organizations.
Lawrence is also the backup location for all Marion County 911 Emergency Communication Operations.
The City will file a Resolution for the proposed station and will formally introduce the Resolution at the November 15th Lawrence Common Council meeting.
