On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 9, Larson-Danielson Construction Company helped celebrate the ribbon cutting for the Chesterton Police Department’s newly built station. Larson-Danielson was the general contractor for the project’s 15-month construction stage. Representatives from Larson-Danielson, Chesterton law enforcement officers, citizens and municipal officials, elected officials, and law enforcement officers from neighboring districts gathered before the new station for this event that has been three years in the making.
“It’s always exciting to contribute in a way that makes a community better,” project manager and Larson-Danielson vice president, David Merkel said. “This facility is an enormous facility upgrade which supports the men and women who serve and protect the people of the Town of Chesterton and should therefore benefit all the people of Chesterton. “
Chesterton Chief of Police Tim Richardson is optimistic that this new facility will have a significant impact on the Chesterton Police Department in a variety of ways.
“Chesterton is a vibrant, growing, and historically safe community,” Richardson said. “This new station will enable the department to grow along with it. It will also enable us to forge new community and neighborhood-based partnerships with our town’s residents, incorporate powerful, cutting-edge technology into our operations, and to nurture and expand this agency's valuable relationships with our law enforcement partners on the county, state, and federal levels. The fact that we now stand in the shadow of this marvelous building is a testament to the Town of Chesterton’s unwavering commitment to the safety of its residents, businesses, and visitors.”
Chesterton Town Council President and Chesterton Police Department Liaison Jim Ton and Town Attorney Chuck Lukmann were among the speakers at the event. Chesterton Town Council member Sharon Darnell also shared some remarks. Darnell initially proposed the construction of the new police station and remained a steadfast proponent of the project throughout the entire process. Rick Urschel, president and CEO of Urschel Laboratories, offered his thoughts during the event as well. He and his father Bob Urschel generously donated about $1.2 million to assist in the completion of the new station.
Noah Varnak, superintendent for Larson-Danielson and union carpenter, oversaw the beginning of the construction process. He deeply appreciates the support that the project received from the community.
“The residents of Chesterton took great pride in this project and gave it so much support,” Varnak said. “We saw examples of this throughout the building process, which really added to the experience. Municipal projects like this are great, and it takes dedicated people to get them going. We are grateful for Chesterton’s support and for the efforts of the union tradesmen and women of Northwest Indiana who constructed this great building.”
Jeff Walter, superintendent for Larson-Danielson, oversaw the project from its middle point to its completion. He is pleased with the outcome and has enjoyed the collaborative nature of the project.
“This new facility will offer the Chesterton Police Department more space and more technological features,” Walter said. “Working with the people of Chesterton on this project has been great. Everyone involved had a sense of ownership about it and were very appreciative of our efforts during the construction process.”
The previous police station, which was located across the street from the new facility, was built in the 1960s and no longer met the department’s needs. The new facility, constructed on the old station’s secondary parking lot, features a training room, a records room, new offices, a holding cell, interrogation room, evidence locker, and a fully outfitted gym.
Chesterton Police Department Detective Corporal Arwen LaMotte is confident that this new station will take law enforcement in Chesterton to the next level.
“Chesterton is a great town to work for,” LaMotte said. “The people here are so welcoming and kind. I think those characteristics are displayed in the construction of this building. It shows how much the town appreciates our police force, and we are grateful for that. The equipment upgrades we have received will definitely help us do our jobs even better than before. We now have better internet connectivity and a new gym, which happens to be my favorite addition. I think the community will definitely see the benefits of having a more physically fit police force.”
Please visit ldconstruction.com for more information on Larson-Danielson’s services and projects.
