Cutline: Riverton residents can visit the newly built police station for help with citations, records request and community outreach classes. It is located at 12810 South Redwood Road.

Cutline: Construction of the new police department is underway, thanks in part to land donated by Riverton City.

When an emergency arises, people often turn to the police for assistance.  Riverton City residents will no longer have to question where to find the help they need now that a free-standing police station has been constructed near City Hall.

“The proximity is invaluable to Riverton City,” Police Chief Rod Norton said.

The doors will be open to the community in December, just one year after the Dec. 1, 2013 groundbreaking. Services available onsite include records requests, citation assistance, tours for groups such as Boy Scouts and other community outreach programs.

“We’re really looking forward to next year providing community classes,” Norton said.

A domestic violence advocate will be on the premises for individuals who need help leaving a dangerous situation. Often fear and a lack of financial means prevent people from seeking the help they need, Norton said.

To assist those who are in such a situation, there is a Unified Police Department kids’ room in the building that allows children to play while a parent meets with the domestic abuse advocate. The child stays in constant view of the parent because of the design of the space, which tends to put both at ease during the process.

Local students from Riverton High School’s art department partnered with the UPD to help the kids’ room to feel inviting and appealing by creating a Calvin and Hobbes mural on the wall.

“It’s going to be an outstanding service,” Norton said.

Community partnerships are just one goal of the Riverton City UPD. For example, an officer will be available to meet with residents who desire to form a community watch group in their neighborhood.

“We want to be their partners. We want them to feel that this is their police building and they are welcome here,” Norton said.

It will take a few weeks to finish up the interior space with maps, bulletin boards and moving boxes. Once they’re settled, the police department will celebrate the opening of the new station with an official ribbon cutting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. 

“If they [the community] think they’ve seen it, they haven’t. Come see it on the inside,” Norton said.

The new building is located at 12810 South Redwood Road.