VIDEO: NBC5 goes inside the new Medford Police Department

Medford, Ore. — The Medford Police Department has been housed inside city hall since 1968. Now 48 years later, the department has a new state-of-the-art facility to call their own. NBC5 got an inside look at the new building Friday, where safety is paramount.

Security at the new Medford Police Department, begins at the front doors, where the vestibule doubles as a panic room. There are bullet proof windows, bullet resistant paneling, and bullet resistant doors, along with 360-degree surveillance, and emergency panic buttons throughout the three-floor facility.

Holding cells and interview rooms are also now completely separated from public spaces, something city hall didn’t provide.

“In the new building with the security features that we have a suspect that’s in custody will not be exposed to any area,” MPD Police Chief Randy Sparacino says.

The new building includes state of the art technology, with space to do on-site training. There’s also room for expansion.

But along with all the bells and whistles that came in under budget, there are special touches, that not even the chief knew would be there.

“This thin blue line is to represent the thin blue line of law enforcement, and this line that has the darkened outside with the blue in the middle represents the law enforcement memorial ribbon,” Chief Sparacino says, “so a lot of honor to law enforcement just within the lobby.

Most importantly Sparacino says, it will allow for improved efficiency, and a department that the city hopes the community can be proud of.

The first patrol briefing in the new department is scheduled for next week. The hope is to have the building in full-use by next Thursday.