By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LULING – St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne recently announced construction is under way in Luling on a 34,000 square feet expansion of the department’s law enforcement complex on Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway.

Located on 2.34 acres adjacent to the St. Charles Parish Law Enforcement Complex in the Dufresne Business Park, Champagne said the new building will house the sheriff’s training center, victim’s assistance, records storage and all programs in the special services department.

Designed to withstand hurricane-force winds of 150 mph, the new building will offer larger, updated classrooms and a gym area for physical training. Office space and a commercial kitchen to be utilized during emergencies are also included.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office operates one of 12 Regional P.O.S.T. Training Academies in all of Louisiana. Presently located inside a wing of the Boutte Adult Education facility owned by the St. Charles Parish School Board, Champagne said the academy has outgrown its current space because of the ever-expanding training opportunities offered to local law enforcement and surrounding agencies.

“This will be a state-of-the-art building to better serve our training needs,” said Champagne.

The special services department, with oversight on numerous community outreach and crime prevention programs, presently resides in two separate locations in the parish, and records are stored at another site.

Champagne said having all four of these services in one location and near other vital functions of the Sheriff’s Office will make the department’s efforts more efficient and cost effective.

“For the first time in modern history, the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office will have a headquarters for operation with all divisions housed together,” said Champagne. “This new building will complete this process and continue the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office transformation to a modern, full-service law enforcement agency.”

The building was designed by Murray Architects of Destrehan and awarded to the lowest bidder, Aegis Construction of LaPlace. The project will cost $6,512,602, and the estimated completion date is June 2015.