The old Sheriff's Office facility will now house the local offices of the Texas Highway Patrol.
Polk County Sheriff's Office Transitioning Into New Facility, LIVINGSTON, March 29, 2011 - The Polk County Sheriff's Office is now transitioning into their new 85,000 square foot facility located next to the old facility. The move is nearly complete with nearly all offices successfully relocated. The construction of the expansion began 2 years ago. The move will be 100% complete near the end of April. The jail facility which previously housed only a maximum of 119 inmates will now have an additional 245 beds added on. Sheriff Hammack stated to PolkCountyToday.com that this provides plenty of space for the future. Additionally, the admistrative offices which were cramped due to the growing demand for more personnel to accomodate county growth, have also expanded. With an all new dispatch center, interview rooms, detective offices, and a large training facility/conference room. With the traning facility and conference room, deputies and law enforcement personnel can further advance their TECLEOSE certificate and other law enforcement training. The addition of the new jail beds also affords the county to possibly house inmates for other counties which are having overcrowding problems, which generates more revenue for Polk County. Sheriff Hammack was quick to give praise and stated that he was "...thankful to the county commissioners for their forsight in this very necessary expansion project". Once the project is 100% complete there will be an official ribbon cutting (projected to be sometime towards the end of April).
If you're going to the Sheriff's Office... Enter the south parking lot and follow the drive to the front entrance of the new facilty (look for the new flag poles).
If you're going to the jail section... The jail control and visitation section is still located at the old facility for now, but will be relocated to the new facility at the end of April.
What will come of the old facility?... The old facility will house the local offices of the Texas Highway Patrol and the Game Wardens.
View of the front entrance of the New Polk County Sheriff's Office
The new dispatch center is much larger.
The window to the old dispatch center has signs over the window indicating that they have relocated.
Sheriff Hammack looks over drawings of the new facility prior to groundbreaking.
At 11:30 am on March 24, 2009, Polk County Sheriff Ken Hammack was in the company of friends, co-workers, supporters, and media when ground was broken on the Polk County Jail Expansion Project. "We've been working on this for the last couple of years..." Hammack said to PolkCountyToday.com. The expansion project will entail an approximate 80,000 square foot facility that is made to serve the needs of the county jail demands for at least the next 20 years. "We've submitted a lot of information to the state jail commission in regards to our population growth and inmate growth. It's a big project." Hammack Stated. Currently, the Polk County Jail will only house 119 inmates. With a county population of nearly 50,000, the jail is often overcrowded and inmates are having to be sent to other facilities. "We'll not only be ready to house inmates, but the facility will also have us ready for more personnel as Polk County grows..." Hammack said. The new facility will be twice the size of the current Sheriff's compound. This will relieve the overcrowding not only in the jail sector, but in the office as well. The construction will be carried out by J.E. Kingham Construction Company and project completion is scheduled for somtime towards the end of next near (2010). "It's been a long time coming, and it will better serve our community", Hammack concluded.
Sheriff Hammack gives a speech prior to groundbreaking.
Sheriff Hammack takes to the airwaves with KETX's own Ken Luck.
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