Construction to begin on community policing facility

Jennifer Knight

Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

Construction begins Tuesday on the first community policing facility in North Las Vegas. It's needed to serve the expanding northwest portion of the city, officials say.

The $5.1 million project follows a model already in use by Metro Police. The police station is intended to become the center of the community. The 18,000-square-foot building will be located on Washburn Road and Allen Lane and will house a public lobby, a community room, a briefing room and other facilities.

"The building itself belongs to the community," said Justin Roberts, spokesman for North Las Vegas Police. "We, as police officers, merely work there. That's the direction the police department has been going for years."

The building will allow police to mingle with community members, Roberts said.

"The direction of the police department is to empower the community to take back their neighborhoods," Roberts said. "But we come out when they call and do what they can't do."

Construction is set to be completed in 11 months. It will house 125 officers and expand police services. The project is funded by general obligation bonds, city officials said.