Banning's new police station will unite the department

Banning Police Department eagerly awaits opening of new police station.
By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

BANNING -Banning Chief of Police, Leonard Purvis, has his calendar marked for late December, early January because that's about the time when he and his police department will move into their new home - the new Banning Police Station.

The new station is currently under construction on Ramsey Street just one block east of San Gorgonio Avenue in the heart of downtown Banning.

When finished, the new station will dwarf the old station by about three times the size, and in a sense unite the department.

"The new station will have about 30,000 square feet," said Purvis. "We have some departments separated and spread apart. Now we will be all under one roof and we are really proud of that."

Because the new police station has plenty of room, it will also allow the department to grow as the city grows, he said.

"It will be nice," Purvis said. "We are all excited about it."