Today, Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) joined Kings County Sheriff David Robinson and community leaders to celebrate the official opening of the new Sheriff’s Headquarters in Hanford.
Assemblymember Salas secured $7 million for this project as part of a public safety infrastructure package in the 2018-19 state budget, along with an additional $1.7 million for a new police facility in Corcoran. In total, Assemblymember Salas has helped secure $13.7 million for public safety infrastructure projects in Kings County, including crucial improvements in Lemoore, Avenal, and Corcoran.
“Working with Sheriff Robinson and the Kings County Board, we have brought 7 million to create an
innovative, state-of-the-art facility that will improve public safety and community relations in the Valley,” said Assemblymember Salas. “The headquarters approaches public safety and community engagement in a collaborative, dynamic new way. The facility provides a shared community space that will serve as a heating and cooling center for Valley families as well as provide showers & lockers to help with the homelessness problem. This is truly a breakthrough innovative new solution that will meet Kings Counties needs for at least the next 50 years.”
The new headquarters will include a large community room which is open to the public and available for use by members of the community and other law enforcement partners. The facility also includes an area which will double as a heating and cooling center for the homeless to use.
“I am very excited about the new Sheriff’s Headquarters Building on the horizon here in Hanford,” said Sheriff David Robinson. “It will allow us to better serve our community and have a more efficient building in a central location next to the Kings County Jail. Assemblyman Salas was our lead advocate in Sacramento to ensure we received these funds. I can’t thank him enough for this project and the other things he does to keep Kings County moving forward.”
In its 125 years, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office has only resided in two permanent locations, the original jail – ‘The Bastille’ – and its current location on Lacey Blvd where it has been since 1964. The new headquarters in Hanford marks a significant improvement for public safety and the Kings County community.