WEST ALEXANDRIA — Police Chief Anthony Gasper expressed gratitude to numerous Preble County residents and organizations on Friday, Aug. 23, for their help in relocating the West Alexandria Police Department.
“We’ve had a lot of help from local businesses, and that’s made a big difference,” Gasper said.
Several groups have donated time, equipment, and labor, according to Gasper, to assist the police department in keeping the costs of the move to a reasonable amount. Just a few of the organizations which have pitched in include:
- The West Alexandria Police Association, a volunteer group which donated $300-400 worth of paint and other supplies;
- Eaton Computer, which gave the department a 75 percent discount on labor to move and set up the department’s computers and configure their secure wireless system;
- West Alex-based electrical contractor RLN Enterprises, which donated labor and materials toward the construction of an evidence room at the department’s new location;
- Valley Carpet Center, which sold the department new carpet at cost and included free labor;
- And local retailer Jay Craft, who donated thousands of dollars worth of furniture when the department first moved into its current location, and is now providing a substantial discount on moving costs.
“And there are lots of other residents who helped out,” Gasper said. “We’re about half to two-thirds of the way to getting it done.”. The department hopes to be finished moving into the new offices by the end of September, according to Gasper.
West Alexandria Village Council members discussed plans to relocate the police department at their July 15 and Aug. 20 meetings. The police station is currently housed in a property located at 73 N. Main St. in West Alexandria. That building is owned by former village council member Ray Waldeck, who resigned from the council in June, shortly after acquiring the property, to avoid a conflict of interest.
The police department’s new offices will be located in the Town Hall building at 16 N. Main St., adjacent to the Mayor’s office and library, according to Gasper.
“If all these people hadn’t helped us out, I don’t know how we could’ve done it,” Gasper said. “It’s not cheap to move a whole police department, and we still have a ways to go. But they’ve helped us through the whole thing, and I just want them to know how grateful we are, and to thank them for their assistance.”
