Soap Lake Police begin improvements

Chief adds cars, officers and security wall

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake Police Chief Jim Dorris sees his vision for the Soap Lake Police Department coming to life.

Dorris was sworn in as the new police chief a week ago and immediately took charge with making some changes with image, safety and efficiency.

"I told (Mayor Wayne Hovde) what I'd like to do and the next thing I knew we had contractors in here," Dorris said.

The police department remodeling project should be done within the next two weeks, he said.

One of the main features to the project is the installation of a security wall to separate the office from the public for safety purposes. A bullet-proof window will be installed at the counter for additional security when people first enter the building.

Before it was a large counter area with a lot of open space, so approval for a security wall was granted, he added. A monitor will be installed by the entrance so people are visible when they walk in.

The department received their fourth squad car Thursday, the cars are receiving new graphics with different colors. The new color scheme will be black, blue and gray. The front of the building will also receive the same matching graphics.

The department also received new uniforms to replace the old brown ones.

Five individual work stations will be installed in the office. This allows each officer to work with increased organization, he said. Each work station will receive its own phone and provide room for the school district for operations during emergencies.

The computer systems are also in the process of being updated.

Dorris is preparing to hire two more officers. Hiring exams are planned for December.

"We're working on hiring," Dorris said. "Next year will be a push on more training."

His number one goal for now is getting those two officers in and put to work.

"It's one of those things where you wish you could snap your fingers and have it be done so you can get on with it," Dorris said about the project.

The exact cost of the remodel project is unknown due to volunteers donating their time, Hovde said.