Before Johnstown Police Chief Jeff Strossner cut the yellow police tape with Saturday morning to unveil new renovations at the police station, Mayor Michael Duncan welcomed those in attendance with a definitive statement.
“We back the blue,” Duncan said.
Johnstown city council members, residents and other officials attended the ceremonial cutting before taking tours of the revamped station at 430 S. Parish Ave.
Renovation work started last July, on Strossner’s first day as chief. The renovations were made possible by a $1 million grant the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
Duncan said the station is more than a brick-and-mortar building in the community. It’s a beacon of safety for Johnstown residents.
“It represents a promise of men and women who wear the badges. Who serve with courage, protective pride and never back down,” Duncan said. “It’s a promise to every resident that your safety, your peace-of-mind and your future will always come first.”
Strossner thanked everyone for making the renovations possible. After pictures were captured of Strossner, Duncan and others cutting the yellow tape, the chief welcomed everyone else inside for a tour.
Johnstown Police Cheif Jeff Strossner cuts yellow police tape on Saturday in front of the Johnstown Police Department to unveil the newest renovations to the station at 430 S. Parish Ave. Residents, city council members and others attended the morning ceremony and toured the building. (Zant Reyez/Staff reporter)Among the new amenities are updated technology, extra storage, community and training spaces, an upgraded evidence storage and a new welcome area. Strossner said his favorite addition is the training space.
The Colorado State Patrol has already used the new training space at the Johnstown station, he added. Other agencies have used the training space to help his officers, too.
“In today’s day and age, we have to constantly be giving our officers professional development opportunities,” Strossner said.
After residents got a tour around the new-look station and grabbed a cookie, most headed out back to the parking lot where Johnstown Public Works trucks, police cars and fire trucks were parked for the Touch-a-Truck event.
Kyle Richards, a longtime Johnstown resident, said he and his family came out to meet officers and because these types of events are symbolic of Johnstown. They’re small events that keep a small community connected.
Even though Johnstown has a Buc-ee’s and the Johnstown Plaza area grows daily, he said, these events in the “old” Johnstown are important.
“These events are what we love about Johnstown,” Richards said. “These events, I think, serve as needed reminders we’re still a small community.”
Strossner said it means everything to him and his officers to see the community turnout for the event.
Longtime officers were also astonished by the state of the station and its new glory, Strossner said.
This investment shows younger officers what Duncan said to open the ceremony, he added: Johnstown backs the blue.
“When we’re trying to recruit, what we’re talking about is you get to grow with the way the town grows,” Strossner said. “This is a symbol of that.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘We back the blue’: Johnstown Police Department unveils renovated station )
Also on site :