TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The old police department building near downtown Terre Haute is set to be demolished soon.
The current location of the Terre Haute Police Department on 7th and Poplar has been their home since 2021. Public Information Officer Sgt. Justin Sears says we can expect demolition for the old building on Wabash, but the spot still has a lot to offer.
“In the near future, looking to do it as soon as possible,” Sears said. “It’s a key part, as far as location goes, it’s great. It’s right in the center of the city, and that was great for the police department, but being where we’re at now with the infrastructure that we have, we’re still close to downtown, we’re still close to the center of town.”
Sears says the current building has provided new opportunities to not only officers, but the community as well.
“Literally just 50 kids from a kindergarten program left for our Grinch program that we can host here,” Sears said. “Countless training opportunities that we host here, and everything that we do that we weren’t capable of doing at the old building. The old building served its purpose, we were there since 2003, we outgrew city hall, the original 6 policemen from Terre Haute to now 139.”
Sears says the 100-plus officers and staff have enjoyed the past three years at the 7th Street location.
“Really can’t thank Chief Shawn Keen enough, that was his baby,” Sears said. “That was his project for over a dozen years of him working on a new department. There were several different plans, and always trying to move the Terre Haute Police Department into a better facility, a more capable facility, better for officers and the city, and it did come into fruition in 2021.”
The city is in charge of the vacant building, and they hope to revitalize the property in the near future.
