Fountain Valley : City Police Force Moves Into New Headquarters

Out of the old and into the new was the motto around the city Police Department on Monday. Individuals trying to reach the department’s non-emergency numbers Monday and today might have a difficult time as the department completes its move into a new $3.5-million facility adjacent to the old building in the City Hall complex.

“Standard business calls might take a little longer today and tomorrow because of the move,” said watch commander Lt. Rod Gillman, as police and telephone company personnel streamed like worker ants between the two buildings on Monday morning in an effort to set up shop in the new facility.

By Monday afternoon, a state-of-the art communications center was up and operating in the new building. Earlier, from about 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., emergency 911 calls were routed to the Westminster Police Department and calls to Fountain Valley officers in the field were handled through a countywide emergency frequency.

“It has been very hectic,” said dispatcher Susan Wilger, who said that at one point a fellow dispatcher switched to a hand-held radio in order to get a clear channel to talk to officers.

The new communications center, much like the radio-communications center in the movie “Beverly Hills Cop,” is filled with specialized computer equipment and illuminated with blue lights that have a calming, “stress-reducing” effect on radio personnel.

Blue lights wouldn’t have helped ease the stress going on at the old office as box upon box was stacked, labeled and color-coded to facilitate moving. At one point, a badly stacked box tipped on its side and its contents spilled onto the floor.

“It’s been awful and confusing,” said Desk Officer Patricia Henniger between phone calls early Monday, “at 5 o’clock, I’m sure we’ll all have headaches.”

The new building has 96 operational rooms--including a fitness area--equaling about 28,500 square feet, with an additional 32,000 square feet for a small detention center, garage and utility space. The new quarters are seven times larger than the old facility, which had 28 offices in a cramped 8,500 square feet.

An open house for the new facility, part of the City Hall complex at Brookhust Street and Slater Avenue, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.