Summerville, South Carolina — After more than three decades in the same building, Summerville police are prepared to leave their longtime headquarters as the town prepares to demolish it and build a new, modern facility.
Since 1989, the department has functioned from its current location. As Summerville has developed, police leaders believe the building no longer fulfills the demands of an expanding agency.
“We’ve just outgrown it,” Deputy Chief Chris Hirsch explained. “As the town has grown, the police department has grown with it, and there is simply no more space to use in this building.”
Officers have spent weeks going through decades worth of data, equipment, and furnishings. Items with historical importance are being wrapped and stored. Other supplies that are still serviceable are being distributed to various municipal departments.
“We’re keeping what we need and letting other departments take anything they can use,” Hirsch informed the crowd.
Some units, including the traffic division and detectives, have already relocated to temporary facilities throughout Summerville. During the construction of the new facility, the remaining divisions will function from the police training annex behind the current headquarters.
Hirsch stated that the public should not notice any impact on service.
“We don’t expect this move to affect how we handle day-to-day operations,” he told me. “Our officers are out in the field most of the day, and we will continue meeting and communicating like we normally do.”
The new headquarters will have more space, a full training facility, seating for large classes, a media area for press briefings, and a modern dispatch center. Hirsch stated that the changes will finally enable the department’s facility to match the degree of professionalism that they already strive for.
“Having everything we need in one place will make a big difference, and it will help the building reflect the work we do,” he told me.
The demolition of the present headquarters is slated for December 9. As the transition progresses, police will continue to provide updates and information on interim locations via social media, signs, and public notice.
Construction on the new facility is projected to take two years.
