Waukon Police Department moves back into newly renovated Police Station


Newly renovated, inside and out ... The Waukon Police Station renovation project has come to completion, with Police Department staff moving back into the newly remodeled facility within the past couple weeks after being located in its much smaller previous location under City Hall for the past five months while renovations took place. The project began in September of 2020 and included upgrades to both the interior and exterior of the building, addressing some much-needed improvements for safety, health and functionality considerations. Standard photos by Joe Moses.

Renovated office areas ...

More efficient and functional garage area ...

New individual work stations for officers ...

Wider hallways and more secure doors ...

Secure evidence storage access ...

Additional secure storage ...

by Joe Moses

The Waukon Police Station remodeling project was recently completed with the Waukon Police Department transitioning its operations back into its building on the 100 block of First Street NW, a location that has been home for the Waukon Police Department since the early 1990s.

In preparation for the remodeling project, the Waukon Police Department’s office space was temporarily relocated to its one-time former location in the lower level of Waukon City Hall. Last fall, Police Chief Paul Wagner shared with The Standard that the temporary office space was previously used by the Waukon Police Department prior to the early 1990s purchase of the current Police Station structure.

This past week Chief Wagner provided a tour of the remodeled Police Station to The Standard to discuss various improvements and features that have been added, including bulletproof glass and walls at the front of the structure, specifically the entryway, which serves as a greeting and waiting area. Visitor access to the structure through a metal door is controlled by personnel located within the front office area that once housed the building restroom, which has since been moved further within the structure and is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, as is the entire structure.

Wagner described the former squad room area, now a conference room near the building’s entrance, as being a multi-purpose area to be used for interviews, meetings, training sessions or as an emergency response command center for law enforcement and other personnel. Wagner noted that multimedia equipment will be installed in this room in the future to aid in training, meetings and emergency situations.

The renovated Police Station includes an improved squad room area with individual desks for each officer. This portion of the building also provides access to the secure evidence storage room, an area that was formerly part of the garage. Wagner explained that evidence enters this room through small locking doors in a wall shared with the garage, allowing an officer within the evidence room to document and place materials in secure storage.

The garage area also includes an eye wash station and is equipped with carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide sensors as safety measures. Wagner added that if either sensor is triggered, 100% air exchange takes place in approximately four minutes through the building’s improved ventilation system. The wall space formerly occupied by windows on the south and north side of the building has been filled in with cement block and insulation for improved security and efficiency.

The renovated Police Station’s layout includes an interview room in addition to office spaces for Wagner and Assistant Police Chief Luke Inglett. A locker room is part of the new layout and includes a clothes washer and dryer in addition to a shower, available for officer use as necessary.

Wagner noted that some minor exterior touch-ups remain, including the installation of a light on the structure’s façade and some painting to take place on portions of exterior metal siding and trim that was retained from before the remodel.

Wagner also provided an overview of the second phase of the project which essentially began mid-September 2020 with Upper Iowa Construction performing the interior demolition including the removal of the concrete floor, sheet rock, walls and ceiling. With support beams and pillars to be installed at the front of the building, Wagner explained that footings were next poured to allow these supports to be put in place with drains and plumbing installed next under the floor prior to the concrete pouring. Walls were then added with electrical, plumbing and HVAC work being performed throughout the project, with the building’s façade being the last step in this process.

Wagner recognized several contractors who were involved in the Waukon Police Station remodeling project including Dave’s Complete Construction, Inc. of Delhi as the primary contractor after winning the project bid, with Upper Iowa Construction of Cresco performing work as a subcontractor. Other contractors include See Electric LLC of Decorah, which performed all of the electrical work with Becker Hardware, Inc. of Ossian being the contractor for plumbing and HVAC.

Wagner added that Five Star Telecom of La Crosse, WI was responsible for the installation of the key fob system and all communication cabling with Ceiling Pro Plus of Waukon performing the ceiling installation. Rusty Berger Masonry of Waukon was responsible for masonry work with Kelly Concrete of Waukon pouring the driveway and apron as part of the first phase of the project in summer 2020. Tri-State Doors, LLC of Waukon performed work relating to the garage door with Riley Flooring of Waukon and Fashion Floor Center, LLC of Decorah being responsible for flooring improvements.