For construction-related updates, visit the Project webpage.
Background
This project has been over four years in the making. The Lacey Police Department and community members work together every day to make Lacey a safe and desirable place to live, work, learn, and play. We accomplish this by focusing on prevention, intervention, and enforcement.
Lacey is a growing community that anticipates having a population of about 75,000 by 2035. Population growth will require increases in public safety staff, including officers, mental health professionals, and other non-sworn professionals, to maintain the levels of safety our community expects.
Lacey’s current, unofficial population is 58,000 and the Police Department includes 63 sworn and 13 non-sworn professional (76 total) staff. The new police station is expected to meet the needs of our full-service, law-enforcement agency for the next 30-40 years. This facility will be designed to accommodate future growth of the Police Department as the City continues to grow.
The current facility does not have the space to accommodate this growth or the City’s current policing needs. In addition, the current building does not meet essential building standards and would not likely survive a significant natural disaster. An option to build and renovate the current facility was determined to not be feasible.
Working with its neighboring partners, the City entered into an agreement with St. Martin’s Abbey to purchase the land just north and adjacent to the current City campus. This purchase allows the new facility to be located and designed in a new area, while still complementing the existing City campus and St. Martin’s Abbey landscapes. This site allows for easy access by car, bus, bicycle, and foot. It also provides enough space for the building to include an area where community members can gather for meetings and events.
The Lacey Police Department’s community-policing style means partnering with non-governmental organizations to provide positive outcomes for community members. The new station will include spaces for mental health and homeless outreach professionals. It will also provide training areas for continuing to enhance de-escalation techniques.
The Lacey Police Station is anticipated to be open in 2025.
Community Advisory Panel
In 2021, the City established a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) made up of community members to help with this project. The CAP reviewed the public safety facility needs-assessment study, toured the current police department building and anticipated building area, and provided recommendations on how the Lacey Police Department and community will use the new facility.
Public Meetings
The Lacey City Council discussed the new Police Station and Training Center at public meetings over the past couple of years, including (but not limited to) the following key dates:
- The Lacey City Council reviewed and approved the funding strategy at their April 27, 2023 meeting.
- The Lacey City Council allocated funding for the project as part of the 2023 Budget Amendment and 2024 Budget.
- The Lacey City Council approved the construction contract at their December 21, 2023 meeting.
Current Station and Future Station
| Current | Future |
|---|---|
| Built in 1985 and does not meet current ADA-accessibility standards. | Facility enhancements with an emphasis on accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The new facility will improve the Police Department’s ability to provide programming with an emphasis on innovation, technology, and wellness. |
| No public area, other than a small lobby, to host indoor community meetings or events. In addition, the facility is difficult to locate and lacks adequate parking. | Community-engagement spaces for events and meetings. |
| No space for safe custody exchanges. | Safe spaces for custody exchanges and e-commerce transactions. |
| Lacks space to conduct confidential interviews | Improved investigations space with safe, comfortable interview rooms that offer privacy for victims and witnesses, and safe, secure rooms to interview suspects. |
| Inadequate space to safely handle and package hazardous evidence. | Enhanced spaces for safe evidence handling and storage. |
| Lacks secure space to conduct required classroom and physical trainings. | Improved training areas with designated spaces for classroom-based training, work out/physical training areas, and firearms training. |
| Inadequate changing and restroom areas. | Expanded changing areas to accommodate all officers. |
Timeline
Lacey Police Department & Facility History (in brief)
1967
The Lacey Police Department (LPD) was formed with 3 Officers serving a population of 7,650.
The Lacey Police Department (LPD) was formed with 3 Officers serving a population of 7,650.
1967
1985
The current station (15,000 sq. ft.) was built for 25 Officers – 30 total employees – serving a population of 15,000.
Minor renovations increased the facility to 18,250 sq. ft. to accommodate 50 Officers – 75 total employees – serving a population of 31,000.
Early 2000’s
2019
The City completed a LPD analysis and needs assessment.
The City established a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) made up of community members to help with this project. The CAP reviewed the public safety facility needs-assessment study, toured the current police department building and anticipated building area, and provided recommendations on how the Lacey Police Department and community will use the new facility.
2021
2022
The LPD currently includes 65 Officers, 6 Community Service Officers, 12 Professional Staff, and 14 volunteers – 97 total employees – serving a population of 58,000+.
The City contracted with KMB and Roth Shepard Architects to complete a schematic design of the new facility, based on the 2019 needs-assessment study.
The LPD formed a Community Advisory Panel to provide input and feedback throughout the new facility design process.
The City entered into an agreement with Saint Martin’s University to purchase a parcel of land adjacent to City Hall Campus.
The Lacey City Council reviewed and approved the funding strategy at their April 27, 2023 meeting.
2023
2023
The Lacey City Council allocated funding for the project as part of the 2023 Budget Amendment and 2024 Budget.
The Lacey City Council approved the construction contract at their December 21, 2023 meeting.
LPD seeks to open new police station.
2025
Phase
To learn about the current phase, visit the Project webpage.
Funding
This project is funded through existing reserves and LTGO bonds, see table below. No new taxes were created to fund this project. A public vote was not required.
The Lacey City Council discussed the new Police Station and Training Center at public meetings over the past couple of years, including (but not limited to) the following key dates:
- The Lacey City Council reviewed and approved the funding strategy at their April 27, 2023 meeting.
- The Lacey City Council approved $29M in funding for police station construction with the 2024 Budget.
- Previous funding was approved by the Lacey City Council in the 2023 Budget Amendment.
- The Lacey City Council approved the construction contract on December 21, 2023.
The project is anticipated to total $61.5 million. This includes design, construction, property acquisition, and other associated costs.
| Police Station Funding Strategy | Approved April 24, 2023 |
|---|---|
| LTGO Bond | $18M |
| Real Estate Excise Tax Reserve | $18M |
| ARPA/SLRF Funds | $6.8M |
| General Fund Reserves | $13.7M |
| Design/Land Reserves | $5M |
| Total | $61.5M |
