November 2019 | Vol. 5 Iss. 11
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‘HISTORIC MILESTONE IN OUR CITY’ WVC OFFICIALLY OPENS NEW POLICE BUILDING By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
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ith Mayor Ron Bigelow calling it a “historic milestone in our city,” West Valley City officially opened its new police department building. Bigelow and Police Chief Colleen Jacobs cut the ribbon in October on the $25 million structure just northwest of city hall. “We’re super excited,” Jacobs told the West Valley Journal. “This building is modern, well-built, and it’s going to carry us into the future,” she said, while noting its efficiency and functionality without frills. The 66,500-square-foot facility will house the department’s 262 employees, including 216 sworn and 46 civilian personnel, and a host of improved services and equipment, such as forensic and ballistic labs. It is West Valley’s first facility dedicated solely to police operations. “It is a symbol to the citizens about the status of the police department, that it is a large, professional organization dedicated to the safety of the citizens of West Valley City,” Bigelow told a gathering of VIPs, city officials, and the public at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He said it also symbolizes the “health and direction” of the city. City manager Wayne Pyle said talk of a new police headquarters began around the time he joined the city in 1997. “This project is the result of literally years of planning, property acquisition, design, financing, demolition and construction.” He said it was financed without raising taxes by rolling over money budgeted for other building projects when they were finished.
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West Valley City opened its new police department headquarters in October. The $25 million building will bring police operations under one roof. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
The building was erected in a relatively quick 16 months, according to officials with contractor Layton Construction. The new police department is part of a major redevelopment in recent years to create a downtown area known as Fairbourne Station. It encompasses the currently operating UTA bus and TRAX station, Embassy Suites Hotel, multi-family housing, and an under-construction seven-story parking structure and a nine-story office building that will include retail
space. The latter two are nearing completion. Construction is also progressing on a multi-level building for Granger Medical Clinic, which will relocate from 4100 South and Bangerter Highway. West Valley’s old public safety building that used to house the police and fire departments — and was only meant as an office building — will be torn down for additional development. l
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