henderson:

Police substation moves city in a green direction

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 | midnight

Henderson Police Department

One of Henderson’s oldest neighborhoods got the city’s first green building Tuesday with the grand opening of the Henderson Police Department’s North Substation.

The station, on Sunset Road two blocks east of Boulder Highway, is the city’s first to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system.

Mayor James B. Gibson said the substation is a symbol of the city’s commitment to the Pittman area.

“This facility will allow us to have a stronger presence in an area that really needs it and has needed it for some time,” he said.

Pittman resident Kristie Robinson, who lives across the street from the substation, said she already has seen a difference since officers moved in a few weeks ago.

“I feel safer than I did before it was there,” she said. “I don’t hear sirens much anymore, because (officers) are already here.”

The North Substation will house 70 officers and 50 supervisors and civilian staff who work in the North Command Area, one of the department’s three geographical divisions. It also will house officers with SWAT, the city’s mounted patrol and the K9 unit.

Since its creation in 2006, the North Command had been sharing the West Substation, on Green Valley Parkway near Paseo Verde Parkway, with the West Command.

Captain Hector Mancillas, who oversees the North Command, said moving the division into its own digs was a mixed experience.

“(Officers) miss working with some of the people they were crowded in with, but by the same token, they’re glad to have their own space,” Mancillas said. “They feel like they’ve landed somewhere; they feel like they’re home.”

Henderson Police spokesman Keith Paul said the department hopes the substation’s neighbors will feel welcome at the station and work with officers to keep the area safe.

“It provides a place where the citizens can come,” he said. “It’s a great visual reminder that the Police Department is here and we want to help them. We want to have those community partnerships.”

In conjunction with the grand opening, the city hosted a neighborhood party at nearby Wells Park, with free food and entertainment, police demonstrations and representatives from several community resources.

Robinson said she enjoyed the party because it allowed families a chance to get out and enjoy the park – something she said she hopes will happen more with an added police presence.

“It’s good to see families out,” she said. “I’d like to see more children at this park … it’s just not what you’d expect a family park that’s next to a school to be.”

After the grand opening, residents were invited to tour the substation and see its energy-saving design elements, which begin with solar panels on top of its covered parking stalls, which will provide 12.5 percent of the building’s energy.

Inside, the substation makes use of natural light and each room is equipped with sensors that turn lights off when there is enough natural light in the room or when it is unoccupied.

The carpet is made from recycled materials, and the air conditioning system is a low-energy, low-maintenance design.

The substation also takes water into account – low flow plumbing fixtures are projected to save 100,000 gallons of water a year, the landscaping is low-maintenance, and the drainage system captures rainwater to use for irrigation.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By bdover

3/25/09 at 7:54 a.m.

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Readers, I'd like to take a poll.

What is the greatest number of Henderson cruisers that you have seen at a traffic stop? My experience is 3-one sedan and two Tahoes. Little old lady-hope she didn't have a butter knife in the car.

But I also saw 2 teenagers near Boulder and Lake Mead sitting on a curb in the middle of the day, cuffed up big time. Must have been shoplifting or had some dope. 5, yes 5 of our finest killing time in their donut mobiles. Bet every one of the cops filled out a report to cover their boredom. Boy, it must be a long day in our relatively placid city looking for something to do. Now we have another substation, too. Golly, they really need another 1/4% sales tax increase. Right?
By StreetKings

3/25/09 at 9:20 p.m.

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Mr. Dover,

Are you kidding? How dare you take shots at these officer like that! They deal with the worst of the worse and are dedicated every night to stand watch while you sleep comfortably under the umbrella of the security they provide. You enjoy freedom because men and women rose to the challenge and held the line in the great wars of this country. Many of those men and women today, make up the thin blue line that law enforcement officers hold every day so that you can walk down the street without being assaulted or sit in your home without being the victim of a violent crime. Maybe you should thank these officers and not question what you have not taken the time to research and understand. I am sick and tired of the rants by pieces of societal driftwood that leach off of the system while hard working, tax paying citizens carry their load. You assume these officers are loafing off and probably haven't considered that when there are many officers on a scene that some may be new and in training. Or even worse that the people they are dealing with are really dangerous and warrant this response. Why don't you stop taking for granted what our City's finest sacrifice each day to provide for you. Maybe you should consider the fact that you have lived long enough to collect Social Security and to be covered by Medicare, simply means that you have successfully exchanged oxygen for carbon dioxide. It doesn't mean that you have contributed your share to society to the extent that you can take shots at the very people that would run to your aid and protect you with every fiber of their being. A simple thank you would suffice. I would suggest you contact the law enforcement agency in your area and meet with their Chief or Sheriff before showing how much you really don't know. As for the 1/4% sales tax augmentation, I would rather support them than spend my hard earned tax paying dollar on ungrateful dead weight like you.

Street Kings
By wonderingwhyinLV

3/26/09 at 8:06 a.m.

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wow....sounds like a jerry springer moment
By Nevhiker

3/26/09 at 12:23 p.m.

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To Bdover.... Please contact the Police chief and make arrangements for a night time ride-along with one of our fine officers in blue. I bet you change your tune about so many officers and the 1/4% sales tax.
Yes, HPD has officers in training all the time, thus you often have two officers per vehicle, and back-up vehicle/officers is a routine safety measure.
Have a nice day....:)