Minnesota PD's New Station Aimed at Decreasing Vehicle Vandalism

The Hutchinson, Minnesota, Police Department has a new police station for its officers.

Police Chief Tom Gifferson told Government Fleet that the the facility has 18 indoor parking stalls — enough for the entire fleet, plus two extra spaces.

Better Protection for Officers' Vehicles

Gifferson said that over the years, officers' personal vehicles and patrol vehicles have been damaged or tampered with. Most recently, one officer's vehicles had both of its rear brake lines cut.

The indoor parking will help officers alleviate this issue.

Before opening the new station, the department was split between three buildings. The new facility will allow the staff to collaborate in a single building.

The previous facilities also had organization inefficiencies. When planning the new building, the department was able to make changes to its organizational structure, as well as make the building more energy efficient.

The single-level building is 36,000 sq. ft. Included in the facility with the police department is the Hutchinson Department of Motor Vehicles.

The facility will not be used to service vehicles. The department uses a private contractor to service its fleet.