The Wheeling Police Department's new headquarters is making major headway, as they are close to finishing renovations on what will be almost 10 times bigger than where they're operating out of now.
"Finally, we are going to have an agency that fits the capacity of roughly 100 employees the Wheeling Police Department has," Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said.
It will wind up a 32,000 square-foot difference from the 4,000 square-foot department they have been in since the 1950s.
It will be loaded with additions like an independent police agency, locker rooms, fitness center, office space, and most importantly, training.
One room will be filled with state-of-the-art simulation training teaching officers real-life experiences -- like police driving.
“One of our two simulators is essentially the cockpit of a police curser including radio and everything else," Schwertfeger said.
"It's essentially a video game on steroids, and if gives you an example of driving in emergency conditions and all types of weather, and we will be able to do that in some form every day," Schwertfeger said.
And when they need minute off, a full glass window break room for all employees will be available, as well as sleeping bunk rooms and even a safe room for citizens.
"At the end of the day, we are hoping that this really increases our interest in enforcement, recruitment and obviously retention as well," Schwertfeger said.