New police station could open on Labor Day weekend

Chesterton’s new police station at the corner of 8th Street and Broadway. JAMES WOODS/Photo

The Chesterton Police Department could move into its new station in time for Labor Day weekend.

The move began on August 12 with the addition of new furniture and weights to the new 10,900-square-foot building across Broadway from the current station.

During the course of this week, files and evidence will be moved from the existing police station to the new computerised evidence room.

The final step is the installation of the computer system and servers, which is scheduled to begin on August 26th.

Police Chief Tim Richardson told the police commission that the opening would be contingent on there being no complications.

Richardson became the city’s police chief in August 2021 and began work on a new police station within a month.

“We’re seeing the results of everyone’s efforts and it’s phenomenal,” Richardson said during the Police Commission meeting on Aug. 8. “It was a lot of work by a lot of people.”

The $5.594 million project, being built by Larson-Danielson Construction of LaPorte, was completed on time and on budget. The two-story police station is more than twice the size of the current headquarters.

After the police department vacates the old police station, Larson-Danielson will demolish the 4,300-square-foot building at the west end of the City Hall building.

The demolition will create parking spaces for the police station.

Richardson said he plans to hold an official dedication ceremony for the new police station in mid-September.