After using the same small space to process and store evidence since 2004, the Billings Police Department dedicated a new facility on Thursday afternoon.
Chief Rich St. John and Mayor Bill Cole cut the ribbon for the $3.8 million add-on at 4845 Midland Road.
It nearly triples the size of the building from 6,000 square feet to 16,000 square feet.
It has more space for evidence and brings some of the latest technology.
The chief talked about the importance of the building for investigations and prosecutions.
"As a department that prides itself on being professional and progressive, we found it necessary to modernize our evidence operation," said St. John. "It was necessary for security, successful prosecutions, proper processing of evidence, storage and accountability. Bluntly, our evidence procedures for storage must demonstrate integrity beyond reproach. and this new facility allows us to do that. "
"We owe this to our community, " said Cole. "We owe this to the victims of crime whose lives have been obstructed but who solving those crimes is critically dependent on what's in that building. And we owe this to our personnel and our officers. This is an incredible facility."
South Billings Urban Renewal District tax increment finance, or TIF, money payed for the new evidence facility.
