Renovated sheriff's station may open by year's end

BARSTOW • County officials are aiming to have a new and improved San Bernardino County Sheriff’s station in Barstow operational by the end of this year.

The original station, completed in 1961, has been undergoing substantial renovations since January of last year. Deputies have been working from their temporary home at the Barstow Desert Rescue Squad building on Buena Vista Street three blocks away since October.

Kenneth Hylin, project manager for the county’s architectural engineering department, said that crews uncovered some additional challenges when performing demolition work on the old facility.

“We’ve had quite a few unforeseen delays and had to realign our schedule,” said Hylin. “We’ve uncovered some posts that were rotten and some other items ... the kind of things you find with buildings this old.”

The sheriff’s station was originally scheduled to be finished sometime late this summer or early fall.

For the renovations, the station was almost completely gutted. Harmful asbestos materials were painstakingly removed and almost every portion of the station will be new.

“The asbestos was one of the things we ran into,” said Hylin. “We found multiple layers of asbestos flooring; you can’t see all the levels until you do the (demolition).”

Hylin also said that past water leaks from 20 to 30 years ago caused damage that wasn’t discovered until crews started demolition work.

Stud walls at the new station outline where new and larger rooms will be. The $3.4 million project will add 3,125 square feet to the existing 5,400 square foot station.

Additions include a new evidence room three times the size of the old room and larger offices and hallways. A new locker room with multiple sets of doors can be used for either men or women depending on the current demand.  

Conference rooms will be pre-wired for video screens and all phone wiring will be done with high-grade shielded wire to prevent any interference.

“The new station is going to be something our deputies can be proud of,” said Lt. Dan Riser.

The renovated station will feature all-new gas piping, lighting, and almost all of the walls at the station will be replaced.

The new facility will also feature a sewer system entirely separate from the adjacent jail.

“Some of the inmates choose to clog the toilets in the cells and it would effect things over in the station,” said Hylin.

Hylin said that he hopes the station will be ready by the end of this year, although inclement weather could set that date back.

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(760) 256-4126 or adome@desertdispatch.com