Marion police station groundbreaking set for Oct. 25

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Marion Police Station will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 4:00 p.m. at 6315 Highway 151, just east of Highway 13 in the Marion Enterprise Center business park.

The Marion Police Department, led by Chief Harry R. Daugherty, employs 41 sworn and nine civilian employees. The agency consists of patrol, investigations, and support services divisions. The City of Marion is proud to have one of the lowest crime rates in Iowa.

The current station was built nearly 30 years ago when Marion had a population of about 18,000. Since then the city's population has nearly doubled, and accordingly, the size of the police force and the fleet also doubled. Inadequate space, changes in technology and structural issues have all contributed to the need for the new facility.

The new Marion Police Station will be equipped to meet the diverse law enforcement needs of today, while also accommodating future growth and expansion needs 25 years into the future. Total project cost is $12 million, with November 2013 as the anticipated completion date.