Local residents were invited to tour the newly constructed Smithville Police Department building last Sunday afternoon. Police officers and city leaders were on hand for the event, showing off the new state-of-the-art building.

While the department is still waiting on some furniture and other items before fulling moving into the facility, officials hope to have the 12,000 square foot building fully functional with the next few weeks. The headquarters features a sally port, interview rooms, an armory, holding cells, breakroom, office space for each officer, and a secure evidence area, as well as an area for records keeping.

Mayor Josh Miller thanked everyone involved in the project, and said it was a much needed addition for the department. “There’s a lot of people to thank for getting this building, one of course is the city council for seeing the need, and everybody that’s put in so much time in making this happen.”

“I see the need because the town is just growing so much,” Miller continued. “A lot of people have moved in and I think the town will continue to grow. This building will serve its purpose and meet the needs of the community for many years.”

Smithville Alderman and Police Commissioner Shawn Jacobs also praised the new facility. “I was very pleased when Mayor Miller came up with the idea. It’s something that is very needed. If you have seen the quarters where our police officers are in right now, you know it’s a tiny place and are spread out all over city hall. This will give them a building of their own where they can communicate with each other better, and also it’s much safer for the community as well,” Jacobs said.

Police Chief Mark Collins said he and his fellow officers are proud of the new facility. “There’s so many people to thank. I want to thank the Mayor and Aldermen, and former aldermen that approved this. I want to thank the people who built it. This facility to us is going to be a new world. We have security, we have room, it’s state-of-the-art, it’s modern. It’s something that we’re extremely proud of, and it should be something the citizens of Smithville and DeKalb County should be proud of,” said Chief Collins.

The front lobby of the facility features bullet proof glass and wall panels, records clerk office, hallways, closet space, four holding cells, armory, conference and training rooms, offices for the chief, captain, detectives, and other officers, rooms for records, investigations, filing reports, conducting interviews, locker room, electrical room, and evidence vaults, restrooms, and break room.

Chief Collins told how business will be conducted at the new building. “During normal business hours from 8-5, if you want a report or anything from the police department, you will come to the front lobby and see Administrative Assistant Beth Adcock. An officer will come to the department, meet them up front, then they will go into one of the report rooms to file a report.”

“After hours, they can call 615-215-3000 and central dispatch will have an officer meet them at the police department to address your needs at that time,” Collins continued. “After today, the public won’t be allowed any further back than the front lobby.”

The architect of the facility, Wayne Oakley of Studio Oakley Architects, LLC of Lebanon, was also on hand at the event. “It turned out absolutely beautiful and it fits in well with the public square. It’s something the city can be proud of and we are proud to have been part of the project.”

“We put a lot into the technology of the building, especially for security aspects including cameras, bullet proof glazing, and wall paneling in the lobby, and the technology throughout to control certain aspects of the building. Overall it really turned out well,” said Oakley.

Boyce Ballard Construction of Murfreesboro, won the bid for project, with building costs at $2,395,000. The city issued up to $2.5 million in bonds for the project. Ground breaking took place on September 4, 2020, and construction began on the building.

Weeks later the work was halted after Boyce Ballard Construction encountered unsuitable soils on the site. The city and contractor eventually agreed to split the cost to remedy the problem and construction resumed. The city’s portion was up to $50,000. Since then the city has had a few other add-ons.