Elk City, OK – Renovation work at the Elk City Police Department is steadily moving forward, according to Assistant Police Chief John Cook, who offered an update this week on the major upgrade project.

“It’s coming along pretty good,” Cook said. “I don’t know exact data when it’ll be done. It’s going to take a little bit yet, but I mean they’re working and it’s looking pretty sharp.”

The project, made possible by Elk City voters approving the extension and repurposing of an existing half-cent sales tax in April 2024, includes expansions and infrastructure upgrades to both the police and fire departments. The sales tax was extended for eight years.

Cook said the department had long since outgrown the original building.

“When that department was originally built, we had 14 officers,” he said. “Now we’re slated for 30. The department grows as we take on more functions—SROs, for one. We were getting really, really close down there.”

About 25 percent of the original building was dedicated to the municipal courtroom, which was only used one day a month. The redesign still includes a courtroom but reclaims much of the building’s footprint for more frequent use.

A 1,500-square-foot expansion has been added to the east side of the building. “It’s hard to see because they matched the bricks so well,” Cook said. “That new addition is the detective’s office. So those guys will be housed in there.”

Cook added that the entire building will be more modern and user-friendly, better suited to the technology-heavy demands of today’s law enforcement.

“The original was built in 1982. Back then, we didn’t have any idea we was going to need ethernet cables, cat 4s, and this and that,” he said. “We’ve got digital forensics machines, networks, a lot of wiring and infrastructure now. This will accommodate that.”

Currently, Elk City PD is operating out of the old City Hall building while dispatch runs from the former Buck’s Lodge. More updates will be provided as construction continues.