Interrogation rooms, holding cells, a police academy, even a basketball court, all under one roof.
The Winnipeg Police service showed off the inside of its new 630,000 square-foot downtown headquarters for the first time on Monday. The $214 million cop shop will consolidate 75 per cent of the service - 1,200 members - from around the city.
"It's one-and-a-half times the size of IKEA and our current public safety building will fit on one floor of this building," said Supt. Bruce Ormiston
The most impressive and intimidating part of the building might be the central processing unit. It has several interrogation rooms to question suspects and holding cells for prisoners.
The former Canada Post building also contains the city's 911 dispatch centre and a police academy. It has classrooms and a hand-to-hand combat training room for recruits and cadets. On the same floor, a workout room for members and basketball court.
"Members are required to maintain a level of fitness and this particular room will be used for that purpose," said Const. Jason Michalyshen
This show-and-tell from police is to let people know they'll be open for business soon enough. The building has faced cost overruns of more than $75 million. Its construction is the subject of two scathing audits and an RCMP investigation, not to mention multiple delays.
"The public has been wondering what the delays are, members have been wondering what the delays are, and we're glad the delays are over. We're excited to be here." said Supt. Ormiston
Members will move in over the next seven months. At that time, the public can access the front area of the building on Graham Avenue where, they’ll be able to visit the police museum.
