Northwest Area Groundbreaking

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Department’s 21st police station took place this morning marking the start of construction of the City’s seventh Area police station in the San Fernando Valley. The new station will cover a region carved out of the two of the largest LAPD geographic Areas,Devonshire and West Valley.

This new state-of-the-art station, tentatively called “Northwest” will be approximately 54,000 square feet and will house all functions including patrol, detectives, special investigations, commanding officers’ offices, community relations, and records. The five and a half acre site will feature a vehicle maintenance facility, including a car wash, and a secured parking structure for employees and Department vehicles. Parking for visitors will also be available.

This station, expected to be completed in late 2007, will provide police services to approximately 165,000 citizens in a 33 square mile area. This facility is being built at a cost of $28,980,000.

Comments

[Frank Leon]

To the Los Angeles Police Department

First and foremost, I wish to extend my unconditional support to the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. A Police Dept. that has served as a role model for police depts. all over the world. As a resident of the city of Winnetka I am very much ecstatic that a new police station is being built right down the block from my home. Not only will this give us peace of mind -in knowing that one of our neighbors is a police station- but it will also alleviate some of the workload that Devonshire Division police officers currently have in serving such a large geographic area. I'm very much looking forward to the opening ceremony.

Thumbs up LAPD!!

[B]

29 Million (and we all know how contracts run way over the estimated costs!)would do a long way to increase neighborhood patrols, bike patrols, etc. W/Val Sta was just completed........

Perhaps I'm the only one to think that the W/Val and N/W sta projects should have been merged!

[Nina Royal]

The new Northwest Station is certainly another welcome! It's a shame that it took over 15 years to put those bond issues to work.

However, I did not see a jail mentioned. Are prisoners being booked in Van Nuys or downtown? It takes officers off the street and out of their area for long periods of time as they wait their turn in Van Nuys or elsewhere.

Neither North Hollywood nor Mission Stations have a jail. Can saving the expense of jailers really make up for officers out of commission while booking prisoners and not patroling the streets?

Fortunately, there are still holding cells in Foothill. Otherwise, because of our demographics, the crime rate would be up in Sunland-Tujunga. Officers would need to take their prisoners to Van Nuys, as was necessary during the renovation of the station several years ago.

The Police Dept. continues to do a great job with what they have to work with. Howeer, the city needs to spend more money on public safety, even if it means less money for discreationary spending. We need to be alive in order to enjoy any amenities the city can provide!