BPS moves into new headquarters | News

BAINBRIDGE, GA (WALB) - A south Georgia public safety department is ready to move in to their new headquarters.

After months of renovations, Bainbridge Public Safety will officially call the former National Guard Armory home this weekend.

With just a few minor touch-ups left to finish, Bainbridge police and fire are ready to move into their new home.

"It's going to help the community by policing code enforcement, all those investigations, you'll get a quicker response, both police and fire, and you'll get more of a team effort," said BPS Public Safety Director Eric Miller.

The city of Bainbridge bought the former armory in January from the Georgia National Guard for $120,000.

The current BPS headquarters will now be used as a fire station.

"Reduce response times for fire. It gives us a more professional location to do the work we do and provide the service to the community," said Miller.

BPS had a budget of $100,000 to renovate the old armory.

Half came from the city's general fund and the other half from assets seized from drug dealers.

Including those from May's large drug round up Operation Clean Sweep.

"we're allowed to by federal and state law to take that property and turn it into cash and than put it back into operations as long as it benefits drug education and drug prevention," said Miller.

Miller says while they are done with a lot of the heavy lifting, they still have a lot of work to do. "We still have promotions to do. We still have to get the budget ready to submit to council. So we're going to stay busy, but we're happy the construction is done and we're moving in."

Miller says he's the most grateful for all the donations they received.

The public donated furniture and flowers, while his staff donated most of the labor for the renovations.

The Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard Jim Butterworth will formally transfer the building over to Bainbridge Public Safety Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.

The public is invited to attend the transfer ceremony followed by an open house.

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