Travelers can’t miss the new building along North Airport Drive. After 16 months of site work and construction, South Station is open and ready to serve the community.
The modern building features a tan and grey façade, ample parking and flags waving in the wind. It serves as the Police Division’s base of operations for areas in Henrico County east of Creighton Road.
At a grand-opening event Tuesday, Varina District Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson called the $15.2 million station “a sound investment” in the community’s safety.
“Clearly, communities thrive when residents, businesses and visitors are safe – and they feel safe,” Nelson said before joining other officials in cutting a shiny blue ribbon to commemorate the day. “The new South Station, which stands out here along Airport Drive, shows that our Police Division is equipped and ready to serve the community. With this facility, we have enhanced operational readiness and the all-around capabilities of public safety.”
Police’s former east-end headquarters, known as Fair Oaks Station, had been in leased space for over 20 years. It was tucked in a row of office buildings, which made it often difficult for residents to find. South Station is not only more visible; it’s larger at nearly 20,000 square feet.
South Station is part of more than $177 million in investments in county facilities in Henrico’s growing eastern and southeastern areas. Other projects include the new Highland Springs High School, the renovated Oak Avenue Complex, the new Bungalow City Firehouse 23 and Taylor Farm Park.
“Our infrastructure is growing. Our services are growing and expanding. And as that happens, your county government will continue meeting the changing needs that come with growth,” County Manager John A. Vithoulkas said.
South Station is one of Henrico’s three fully operational Police stations, with officers available around the clock. Roughly 100 patrol officers, including 15 to 20 traffic safety officers, are based at the facility.
It also serves special operations groups, including the motorcycle patrol unit, the Emergency Response and Civil Disturbance teams, and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) group.
At Tuesday’s grand opening, residents and other guests were able to tour the station as officers explained its features.
Just inside the entrance is a community room, which is available for meetings and other gatherings. This space can also be converted into an operations center, such as during large investigations, to facilitate communication across multiple agencies.
By the lobby are rooms where visitors can file police reports or meet privately with investigators. Each is outfitted with comfortable seating, toys and stuffed animals. The furnishings were added in recognition that community members sometimes share stressful accounts or are accompanied by young children.
South Station also includes a 5,000-square-foot building that’s home to the division’s K-9 Unit, including Ruby. The female German Shepherd, who is trained to detect narcotics, wagged her tail for visitors and happily ran and played with her K-9 officer in one of the complex’s spacious, grassy runs.
Before South Station opened, Henrico Police didn’t have a dedicated space for its K-9 Unit. The division had to partner with other localities to conduct K-9 trainings.
The station also addresses another longstanding public safety need: a space to train 911 dispatchers. Beginning with its academy this fall, trainees of the Department of Emergency Communications will be able to practice answering emergency calls for service from 16 dispatcher consoles.
Further, South Station is designed to support officers as they manage the physical and emotional strains of police work. Amenities include a full-service kitchen, a fitness center and locker rooms with private showers. A wellness room is available for staff who may need a quiet, private space. It even includes a sink and a small refrigerator, which could be helpful for staff members who need to pump breastmilk during their shift.
Before the Police Honor Guard unveiled a plaque for the new station Tuesday, Chief Eric D. English predicted that South Station’s high visibility will strengthen connections between Police and residents.
“You know, people want to know where their police station is, where they can come and get help if they need it,” he said. “So, I think that it’s important for the community to know that we’re here for them.”
