VERMILION — City officials, police leadership, and project partners gathered Wednesday afternoon to mark a major construction milestone for Vermilion’s new police station, as the project nears its final stages.
The event, held at the Douglas Street construction site, took place as the building reached roughly three-quarters completion, just before interior walls are enclosed. Officials signed an interior structural wall and placed a dedication plaque that will remain sealed within the building as construction continues.
Mayor Jim Forthofer said the timing of the event was intentional, allowing the city to recognize those involved in planning, designing, and funding the project before the next phase of construction begins. He noted the station represents a rare municipal investment for Vermilion.
According to the mayor, the police station is only the second municipal building constructed by the city in the past 46 years, the first being Fire Station 1, which was dedicated in 2020. He emphasized that the city has not engaged in frequent building projects, but that the police station had reached a point where replacement was necessary.
Forthofer also highlighted the historical significance of the project, calling it the first purpose-built police facility in the history of the Vermilion Police Department. Over the years, police operations have been housed in repurposed buildings, including a former public restroom downtown, a small library, and the current station on Liberty Avenue, which was originally a Lawson’s convenience store.
He thanked city council for approving the funding, residents for supporting the project, and the design and construction teams for their work. Several members of the police department who served on the project advisory team were also recognized for helping define the needs of a modern police facility.
Police Chief Chris Hartung spoke following the mayor, reflecting on what the new station represents for the department and its future.
Hartung said the facility will provide officers and dispatchers with the space and infrastructure needed to do their jobs more effectively, noting that the department has long operated in cramped conditions. As he prepares for retirement, Hartung described the building as a meaningful step forward and a way to leave the department stronger for the next generation of leadership.
After the remarks, attendees signed the interior wall, which will be sealed behind drywall as construction progresses.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Detective Sgt. Scott Holmes, who is slated to become Vermilion’s next police chief, led a guided walkthrough of the building and explained how the station is designed to function once operational.
Holmes said the nearly 6,000-square-foot facility will more than double the size of the current station and address long-standing operational challenges. The building will include a full dispatch center with dedicated workstations and an integrated tornado shelter built to Ohio code, capable of sustaining staff during severe weather.
The layout also includes separate “soft” interview rooms near the lobby to provide privacy for citizens filing reports or statements, as well as secured interview and interrogation rooms for suspects. Holmes said the design improves safety, privacy, and dignity for both the public and officers.
Additional features include a booking area, short-term holding rooms, evidence processing and storage areas, an armory, patrol and detective workspaces, locker rooms with showers for male and female officers, and a secure sally port that allows arrestees to be transferred from vehicles inside the building.
Holmes said early design concepts were significantly over budget due to rising construction costs, requiring the city and design team to scale the project back to essential features. Nearly every aspect of the building was scrutinized to ensure it remained functional while staying within budget.
Despite those constraints, Holmes said the building was designed with future growth in mind. The site allows room for potential expansion decades down the road, should the department grow, helping avoid the need for another relocation.
Construction began in April 2025. Holmes said early weather delays, including extended periods of rain and a high water table, slowed initial foundation work, but those delays were necessary to ensure the building’s long-term stability.
The design team anticipates the station will be substantially complete by February 2026, with police operations expected to move in sometime in March after technology installation, dispatch system transitions, and final inspections are completed.
Once open, the new police station will sit alongside Fire Station 1 and near the Vermilion Local Schools campus, a location Holmes said strengthens coordination between police, fire, and school safety personnel.
City officials said a formal dedication ceremony is expected closer to the building’s opening next spring.
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