The Oro Valley Police Department has acquired land to expand its current substation and build an evidence facility.
On Wednesday, March 2, the police department and Oro Valley officials hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 500 W. Magee Road.
βIt has been 15 years since the planning began and this is the first time we have had the opportunity to build because of funding, the councilβs support and the ability to purchase the property,β said OVPD Support Services Cmdr. Aaron LeSuer.
The police department has 100 sworn officers and about 35 civilian employees. Its budget is about $16 million.
The department is currently using a 5,000-square-foot building as a substation, LeSuer said.
The project includes the construction of a $3.6 million, 19,000-square-foot facility. The first-phase of the project is expected to start in July, and the substation expansion and a shell of the evidence facility should be completed by January 2017, LeSuer said.
The Town Council has approved $1.2 million for the first-phase, LeSuer said.
Oro Valleyβs population is 45,000, and the town is 36 square miles.
Its boundaries are roughly up to the community of Catalina on the north; Ina Road on the south; Shannon Road on the west; and Oracle Road, meandering to Pusch Ridge, on the east.