On Thursday, April 11, community members, city staff, first responders and friends and family gathered for a meet and greet at the new Southmayd Police Station to view the space and meet new Police Chief Jeff Laughlin.
A reception of hors d’oeuvres, desserts and tea welcomed people in the lobby of the building, a renovated three bedroom, two bathroom home located at 304 McElroy (across the street from City Hall). The city purchased the house at the end of last year and the six-officer police department (which was previously working out of small office spaces inside the fire station) moved into the building after the first of the year.
“The house has been a perfect solution for us,” police officer Mike Aguirre said. “Where we were before, it really wasn’t working. This building allows us to better serve our community.”
Aguirre led tours of the building for guests of the meet and greet. Visitors could see that the home’s living room has been turned into a lobby with the addition of a front counter and glass partition. A former bedroom is now an office for Chief Laughlin, where he has displayed awards, accomplishments and memorabilia from his 20-year career with the Denton Police Department. A second former bedroom is an office shared by two other officers, and the third former bedroom is used for officers on patrol, complete with a charging station for emergency radios. The kitchen is used as a break room and conference area, a closet is now an evidence room, and hallways house cabinets for case files.
The police station isn’t the only change officers have experienced with Laughlin at the helm.
“We have new uniforms, we’ve updated the logo on the patches on our sleeves, and we’re adding another police car to our fleet,” Aguirre said. That will bring the department to four outfitted units.
“I’m glad to see these changes, because I believe they’re for the better,” Aguirre said. “In 10 years, I see our department being in line with those of larger cities. It’s an exciting time to be in Southmayd.”
