Pleasant weather greeted those attending the dedication of a new state-of-the-art facility in Mt. Vernon, Il for the police department Friday.
Media reports say a ribbon cutting was held attended by a large crowd of dignitaries and people from around the community. First to speak at the event was Mt. Vernon Mayor John Lewis. He told of the challenges faced by today’s modern police force that simply weren’t being met at the former facility. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel thanked several who worked hard to make the new police station a reality, including Congressman Mike Bost and Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, the Illinois Rural Development Director with the USDA. Through their efforts, the city was able to secure an extra $1 million in federal funding that made possible a modern emergency operations room in the facility that will allow all agencies involved in an emergency operation to coordinate from the same location. Bechtel also thanked Police Chief Trent Page and Assistant Chief Robert Brands for their work in researching and listing what would be necessary for a modern police department.
Everyone who spoke at the dedication Friday thanked Assistant City Manager Nathan McKenna for being the point person on the project. The public is invited to tour the new Mt. Vernon Police Station during an Open House today from 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The facility is located on 27th Street in Mt. Vernon.