Beam signing ceremony marks milestone for new police station in Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG – The Williamsburg Police Department hosted a formal signing ceremony for the new Williamsburg Police Station on Friday, July 19.

Henderson Inc. and architecture firm Moseley Architects are the design-build team for the project. The city said the new 43,400-square-foot station is scheduled to open at its new location, 715 Lafayette St., in fall 2025.

“When I arrived in 2017, efforts were underway to rehabilitate our existing police building,” said Williamsburg Police Chief Sean Dunn. “Unfortunately, even the best rehabilitation would not have given us the space, infrastructure and technology to serve our community the way we would like to. So it is with great joy that I thank our City Council and their leadership and wisdom for making this happen for us. We are very grateful.”

The Williamsburg Police Department moved into its current building around 1978. An information meeting was held earlier that year to discuss what the new police building would include.

“We are excited to celebrate this milestone for the new Williamsburg Police Station with the public,” Mayor Douglas Pons said in a press release about the event. “Our officers and this community deserve a state-of-the-art police station that can provide the best platform for public safety for the next 50 years.”

Last November, the Williamsburg Fire Department held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Pons said a new library and Blayton building are also being considered at the same downtown locations.

“All of these projects, as well as the new police station, are consistent with our vision to create and revitalize the urban campus in our downtown Williamsburg area,” Pons said. “These projects will allow us to improve the service we provide to our residents and visitors.”

“For several years, the (Citizens’ Advisory Council) has been working with the police to bridge the gap between the police and the public,” said Malika Blume, chair of the Citizens’ Advisory Council. “By working with the police, we have been able to better understand the needs of both the police and the public.”

“This new building will provide more space and equipment to make daily operations more efficient while also giving the police the opportunity to invite the public to participate in various initiatives,” Blume continued.

The beam, which was signed during the event, will be installed at a location above the facility’s basement and will support the building for the remainder of its existence. City Council members, state legislators, city leadership, and current and former sworn and civilian members of the Williamsburg Police Department were all invited to sign the beam.

For more information about the project, including a timeline of events, visit the official Police Station Project page.