The community is embracing a refurbished piece of Delta’s history.
The Ladner Community Police Station (CoPS) is quickly becoming a hub to address community concerns and get information.
In February, Delta’s historic municipal hall in Ladner Village was re-opened to the public following an extensive $2.5-million rehabilitation that started in 2016.
The space is now the new home of Ladner CoPS, which is fitting as the century-old building at the corner of Delta and Bridge streets was once Delta’s police station. For almost the last 50 years it had served as the home of the Delta Museum and Archives.
Const. Ken Kirk said the community response has been very positive.
“People have been impressed with the renovations,” Kirk said. “The walk-ins are noticeably up, so for sure our community contact has increased.”
The community station had been on 48th Avenue and while the space was well utilized, getting situated in a more prominent location within the village has been welcomed.
Kirk said even though it has only been three months, with the increase in public interactions comes with an upturn in addressing community concerns.
“That is what we are here for though – to interact and engage with the public,” he said. “Some of the concerns and inquiries the volunteers can handle, but some people do want to speak with a police officer, so that’s my role. The larger office space that we have is also helping to attract more volunteers, attract more people to the programs that we offer. Overall, the move has been received very well.”
According to Delta, careful and respectful rehabilitation combined with necessary upgrades have enhanced the heritage significance and extended the useful life of the building. An elevator has been added and public washrooms are now available.
Parks, recreation and culture director Ken Kuntz said besides the Ladner CoPS on the second level, the building will be utilized as a storage space for the DPD Pipe Band and storage in the lower level for the DPD bike patrol. He said the third level will be for a municipal service, but what that service will be has not been decided yet.
The restoration project included more than $500,000 from the federal government’s Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Fund.
Delta police Chief Neil Dubord said the public opening of the new CoPS office in February felt a little like Christmas Day.
“To say that this community police office in historic Delta is impressive is really an understatement,” said Dubord.
