LAGUNA NIGUEL : Donated Building to Ease Sheriff Crunch

A developer has given a much-needed portable building to help ease a space crunch at the Orange County sheriff’s substation in Laguna Niguel, a move that will have an impact on crime-fighting in South County, officials said Tuesday.

The 3,200-square-foot building will increase the substation’s area by 50% when installed in August. The expansion will give more space to investigators, boost overall morale and help pave the way for when the facility begins staying open 24 hours a day sometime in late summer, Lt. Tom McCarthy said.

“We’ve been very crowded,” McCarthy said. “It’ll certainly help morale; people need to take pride in what they’re doing and where they’re working.”

A gift from the Arvida Co., which has proposed a 4,965-home development in San Clemente, the building had previously been used at a golf course to house its pro shop and snack bar.

The Sheriff’s Department will use the structure for a locker room that can handle most, if not all, of the substation’s 243 employees. Previously, only about half of the officers had lockers, with the rest forced to wear their uniforms to work or carry a change of clothes every day, McCarthy said.

It will also allow the substation’s investigative team to move into larger quarters.

“It’s been very crowded in the investigation section,” McCarthy said. “Just the ability to have a little quiet, have some confidentiality while doing interviews, will help a lot.”