A special event in Indio Friday morning marked a significant milestone for a city making strides at keeping up with its growth.
A beam-signing ceremony that brought out city officials and residents was held to note progress on constructing a $50 million public safety campus.
Three new buildings, totaling 430,000 square feet, are being erected right next to the current police station at 46800 Jackson St. The buildings will house a new state-of-the-art dispatch center, fire station headquarters, and police administrative offices.
During a brief ceremony, Councilmember Waymond Fermon said the project would provide welcome relief needed for a long time.
“We’ve outgrown our current facilities,” said the former mayor. “They’re old and outdated, and now we’re finally able to get our first responders the proper facilities to keep our community safe.”
Fermon said current estimates are that officers will be in the new facilities ahead of schedule in December of this year.
“Ahead of schedule and below budget,” he noted. “That’s a tip of the hat to our contractors and city staff.”
Indio is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, and Fermon said that’s why the city council devoted money to this project. Officials have high hopes that the facility will not only help increase public safety but also serve as a recruitment tool.
“We want to attract the most talented and qualified firefighters and officers for this generation,” said Fermon. “Part of that is giving them the right tools for the job.”
The Indio Police Department is also excited about the new facility since it will include a new evidence room and dispatch center.
“The computer-aided dispatch system and upgraded records management system will enhance our ability to do things like investigations and communicate information to our officers in the street better,” said Assistant Police Chief Brian Tully.
Other significant updates at the facility include new IT services and upgraded living quarters for first responders. There’s also one new perk that may seem small but will make a huge difference.
“We will have a conference room and spaces where we can meet the community,” said Tully. “It’s all about increasing access and continuing to build on our partnership with the community.”
