Sidney Police Department Moves to 1200 Pole Creek Crossing

SIDNEY--The Sidney Police Department has officially moved from its location at 1715 Illinois Street to its new facility at 1200 Pole Creek Crossing. The new location is between Sidney Regional Medical Center and the Sidney Sewage Disposal Plant.

The move started slowly with front office and reception area materials going to the new location first, and then a flurry of activity over the past week resulted in most everybody in the department now situated in their new home.

“We still have some access issues to work out with some employees, so a bunch of us are using keys to get into the building for now,” Sidney Police Chief Joe Aikens said.

The move was part of a deal in which the City of Sidney sold the building at 812 13th Avenue, known in the town as “Big Red”, to Worldwide Trophy Adventures (WTA), a local company specializing in hunting and adventure excursions. As part of the deal, WTA offered its headquarters at 1200 Pole Creek Crossing as part of a “swap” in which WTA takes over “Big Red”, and the Sidney Police Department moves into 1200 Pole Creek Crossing. The real estate purchase and swap generated a lot of controversy in Sidney, with a group of citizens all for the sale and property swap, and another group of citizens saying that the sale was at too low a price, and others not wanting the Police Department to move away from the High School and Downtown area. That time has passed and now with WTA moved into 812 13th Avenue, it was time for the Sidney Police Department to make their move.

There was little technically that had to be done at 1200 Pole Creek Crossing for the Police Department to move in. Besides some security upgrades that needed to be made at the front entrance, so far Chief Aikens says that the power and internet lines are more than sufficient. “This building is about three times larger than the space we are leaving, so we're not going to be cramped and on top of each other,” Aikens said. “We have some very nice conference rooms and facilities, so I can see the city using these facilities for meetings when the City Council room is not a good option for them.”

Denise Huson, the SPD Records Clerk, said she likes the new building. “It's new and comfortable, and it makes my commute shorter. Plus, now I have a great view out of my window that I can look at any time.”

Chief Aikens said over the past week, many people have stopped in for “routine business”, although Aikens believes they were using that “routine business” just to get a quick look at the new facility. “There's a lot of curiosity, and so far the folks who have seen part of the facility have been impressed.”

Aikens also said he expects some type of “Open House” official opening to happen, with the entire community invited, sometime this summer.