RCPD and Sheriff's East Division Show Off New Digs

When it was time for the Rancho Cordova Police Department and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s East Division to move to a new station, they recruited some cheap movers: inmates.

The 60 free laborers helped the departments move from their old location on Rockingham Drive to a newly renovated facility at 2897 Kilgore Rd. in the span of a weekend. Wednesday afternoon, the departments held a to celebrate.

“It’s been a big morale boost for us,” Rancho Cordova Police Chief Doug Diamond told a crowd at the ceremony. Officials praised the new building, part of a $6 million purchase by the city in 2005, as being more spacious, modern, safer and centrally located in Rancho Cordova. Workers at the front counter are now protected by bulletproof glass, and a community room is available to the public.

Rancho Cordova Mayor Robert McGarvey and City Manager Ted Gaebler touted the city’s fiscal sense, including saving $50,000 on moving costs by using inmates, and the fact that the $5.7 million in renovations needed to convert the building into a police station were completed on time, under budget and without the need for bond financing.

During the open house Wednesday, staff gave tours of the new facility, chatted with residents and served hot dogs and drinks.

Sheriff’s Department Det. Jason Manning showed off a $300,000 bomb squad robot to a group of Cub Scouts, who poked at its guns and waved at its camera.

“Kids love to see this kind of stuff,” Manning said. “A lot of the adults like to see it too.”

During a tour of the building, Rancho Cordova Police Lt. Mike Gonzalez showed off the 29,000 square foot building from the booking area to the break room.

“There’s more room to operate” in the new building, Gonzalez said.

As he fielded questions from attendees on the tour, Gonzalez also touted the close relationship between the Rancho Cordova Police Department and the sheriff’s department’s East Division, which patrols areas including Rosemont. The two agencies share radio channels, and can easily help each other if needed, he said.

“It’s a really close working relationship,” he said. “I think it’s a win-win situation.”

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The new station is located at 2897 Kilgore Rd. in Rancho Cordova.