Laurel Police Department unveils new facility

LAUREL, Del. – The Laurel Police Department recently unveiled its brand new home.

A building that was once part of Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School was renovated to create the facility.

“This building is a game changer for the town of Laurel and the Laurel Police Department,” said Chief Robert Kracyla.

At nearly five times the square footage of their previous space, Chief Kracyla is excited to be in the Laurel Police Department’s new facility.

“We were very, very cramped in the other building with very few amenities so to speak,” said Kracyla.

Now, there is no shortage of amenities. The new space features a community room, new detainment rooms, interview rooms, locker rooms and shower facilities, as well as a kitchen.

Soon to be added, a fitness room with workout equipment.

Kracyla said the space is not only beneficial for existing officers, but also recruiting new ones as well.

“Just having a place they are comfortable, so to speak, living here with locker rooms and shower facilities, all those things make a difference,” said Chief Kracyla.

The project cost nearly $2.3 million and was funded through a state grant.

It took nearly six years to renovate the space that used to house part of Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School.

“It was important just for safety issues,” said Kracyla, “I think of having a secure detention area, we came from an area, literally the prisoners were using the same bathroom facilities as we were.”

Laurel Police are also working to install more surveillance cameras across town.

They said the devices can read license plates and recognize faces from 600 feet away.