For years, Denver’s traffic investigations bureau and its sister department, traffic operations, have been separated by about 2 miles.
Now they’re under the same roof in a 50,000-square-foot training and office complex on Park Avenue near Interstate 25.
“This will allow for better communication so they can begin working more closely together,” said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman.
The departments moved in June 2, but the building was officially unveiled Monday.
The $12.3 million project, the first to be completed using Better Denver Bonds, included the renovation of a warehouse into space for the police traffic operations and traffic investigations bureaus and the construction of a state-of-the-art training facility.
The project took 10 months to complete.
Jackson said the 9,770- square-foot firearms training center is a big improvement for police officers and sheriff’s deputies needing to sharpen their shooting skills. Some firefighters and district attorneys also will train at the huge range.
“It’s better designed,” Jackson said. “We can set up different scenarios, so it’ll be more challenging for more complete training.”
The tactical training center has higher ceilings, more ventilation and light, and enough space to allow cars to be placed inside the range to create different scenarios.
The range lets officers train in shooting situations of up to 75 yards in distance.
The training center also includes a simulator room for additional virtual training scenarios.
The two traffic departments are housed in the 22,020- square-foot Police Traffic Operations and Traffic Investigations Bureau, which has room for 88 work stations for investigators and support staff. The building also includes a fitness room.
The units working at the new bureau include accidents, DUIs, highways, photo radar, and neighborhood enforcement and special events.
Closer quarters should help smooth communications between departments. In the past, work could be slowed as investigators tried to reach each other by phone, or while they drove out to meet one another.
“There was just less ease of communication,” Jackson said. “They do work on quite a few cases where they both respond because they both deal with traffic issues.”
The remaining space in the multi-purpose complex includes a garage for police cars and motorcycles, offices for the training facility, and new controlled space to store evidence.
“The location will also be better in terms of quick response being right between I-25 and I-70,” Jackson said. “A lot more efficient.”
Yesenia Robles: yrobles@denverpost.com
