Henderson Police have a new weapon in their fight against crime. The city's third police station formally opened Tuesday night. Officials say it will bring a strong police presence to a part of Henderson that needs it.

With the cut of some bright yellow police tape, Henderson's North Community Police Station was opened to the public.

“It has taken us five years of planning and about a year and a half of construction to be here today,” said Henderson Police Chief Jutta Chambers.

Chief Chambers says the brand new facility was built to accommodate Henderson's unprecedented growth, a police department pressed for space, and a neighborhood in need, “They have a lower income in this neighborhood and our crime rates are a little higher here, so being able to provide this type of visibility and connection to this neighborhood, we feel is very essential.”

City leaders say the area along Boulder Highway has a higher crime rate than other parts of Henderson — from drugs to burglaries.

“At some points in time in its life, it's been a fairly rough neighborhood. Lots of good people, but there have been an element here that's been kind of difficult,” said Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.

“Over the past several years, as the area has gotten older, there have been a lot of rentals come into the area, so we've gotten a lot of complaints from the citizens about drug trafficking, those kinds of things. Just general crimes,” said Henderson City Councilman Jack Clark.

With more than 100 people turning out for the open house, police feel confident they can and will work with the community.

Jaclyn Stillings has lived in Henderson for 22 years. She came with her son's Cub Scout pack, “I think it's wonderful. I think it's just what the neighborhood needs and it's great that they invited everyone down here, especially the kids and the Cub Scouts to help open it.”

With police officers rolling in and out of here all day, every day, neighbors say they can go home with a stronger sense of security.

The police department made a commitment for the building to be green. The building has solar panels and many energy-efficient features, designed to help the environment and save the taxpayer money in these tough financial times.

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