LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — The Lock Haven Police Department has been in City Hall since the building opened. Soon, officers will be moving out, thanks to $1 million in federal funding.
"We applied to Senator Casey's appropriation for congressionally directed spending, and we were awarded $1 million. That is funneled through USDA, and we're working through the processes. Now that they have requirements, we have to formally apply to their program and work through that half, but it is funneled through USDA," said Abbey Roberts, Lock Haven's city planner.
The money comes from the United States Department of Agriculture's Community Facilities program. The total cost for the new building is about $3.6 million.
"It was so beneficial to us, makes the project more attainable, puts less stress on taxpayers, city council. We are looking for more funding, so, hopefully, we get more awards soon, but we do have borrowed funds that will—that this project can go forward no matter what," said Roberts.
Lock Haven Police Chief Matthew Rickard says the department needs more space.
"The locker rooms are deplorable. We get water, we get insect activity in the locker rooms, the showers are broken; there's only one shower. It's just not up to standards."
The new police department will be on East Church Street in Lock Haven. It will include up-to-date locker rooms, showers, a new office, security, and IT equipment.
"We're constantly losing officers to departments that are newer, that have more facilities and are more up to date. Our current facilities are so out of date it's ridiculous, and I think that's causing a lot of our loss. And also having a new facility's going to help us attract new officers, which is what we need at this point," said Rickard.
Construction on the new building is set to begin next spring.