Murphy – The Murphy Police Department will be moving its headquarters following the town’s acquisition of a former bank building at 498 Hill St.
The relocation marks a significant milestone for the department, providing ample space for growth, improved safety measures, and enhanced services for the town’s residents, the town said in a release.
“I am very proud to work for a supportive town and community,” Police Chief Tim Lominac said. “This new location will modernize the Department’s needs to ensure the best and most efficient service to all our citizens and businesses. Our officers and staff are all looking forward to the upcoming move,” Lominac said.
The town paid $565,100 for the 5,600-square-foot building, avoiding financing costs.
“The ability to make this long overdue decision while maintaining healthy cash flows for operations and strategic capital investments speaks volumes about past and current Town Council members,” Town Manager Chad Simons said. “Past boards spent and invested taxpayer dollars wisely. Not many towns our size have the luxury of taking similar action, and the fact that our residential sanitation services are built into the tax base and not supported by user fees makes it even more impressive.”
The decision to move to a new building stems from the department’s commitment to ensuring the highest level of safety and security for the community. The current police headquarters shares a building with the Cherokee County Historical Museum in a Carnegie Library building that is more than 100 years old.
That location has become extremely outdated and no longer meets the evolving needs and demands of modern law enforcement, according to the release. After several years of discussing the need for a new police department, the Murphy Town Council unanimously approved moving forward with the new location in May.
The Hill Street facility offers a range of benefits that will greatly enhance the department’s capabilities. The layout provides three times more space for expansion in comparison to the current location, enabling the department to accommodate a growing team of dedicated officers and staff. With increased space for training facilities, equipment storage, and administrative functions, the new building will foster a more efficient and effective police force.
“The move to the new facility represents an exciting chapter for the Murphy Police Department and the Town of Murphy,” Mayor Tim Radford said. “We are thrilled to transition to a space that aligns with our commitment to providing exceptional law enforcement services and ensuring the safety of our community. The upgraded facilities will empower our officers to serve with even greater efficiency, professionalism, and dedication.”
The Murphy Police Department is grateful for the support and understanding of the community during the transition period, the release says. Temporary measures will be put in place to ensure uninterrupted police services during the relocation process. The exact moving date will be communicated to the public in due course, and residents will continue to receive the same level of law enforcement.