$500,000 Service Center Funded by 2004 Capital Bond Program

Little Rock, AR (21 December 2007). “There have been many changes since I first became involved in City politics, but one thing has remained the same: a commitment to public safety,” noted retiring Mayor Jim Dailey. The Mayor made those comments at a ceremony to dedicate the new Downtown Police Service Center located at 301 East Capital Avenue.

Joining the Mayor were Police Chief Stuart Thomas, City Director Gene Fortson, Downtown Partnership Executive Director Sharon Priest, and Project Progress Committee member Susie Smith.

“Welcome to the neighborhood,” said Priest. She noted that the Police have always been a presence in downtown, but praised the fact they now have their own facility anchoring the east of the business district.

Director Fortson noted that the facility’s site marks the intersection of the corporate, residential, and entertainment neighborhoods in downtown. “As Downtown continues to develop, this location will serve an even more vital role.”

The Downtown Police Service Center will house the command staff for downtown operations. According to Police Chief Stuart Thomas, “This is an additional tool for us. We are not closing down the River Market Police Kiosk or any other police facility.”

The site of the new Downtown Service Center was recently a parking lot for Central Arkansas Water (CAW). The facility was designed by Tim Heiple of Market Row Architects,and the contractor is CWR Construction Co. The $500,000 building is one component of $24.3 million earmarked for public safety out of the total $69 million bond program.

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