Historic day for local police

For the next 12-months, all operations will be conducted from the Court Street site while work is undertaken on the new multi-million dollar police station across the road (next door to the Parkes Fire Station).

NSW Police Minister Michael Gallagher will turn the first sod of the project during his visit to Parkes on Wednesday, July 4.

During the past month, major work has been undertaken at the Court Street offices to ensure daily police operations continue as smoothly as possible.

The work has included essential re-fits such as computers and phone systems, establishing easy pedestrian access, and the positioning of two demountables to assist in the day-to-day police operations.

Appropriate signage has also been installed for the benefit of the general public.

However, until the new police station is up and operating, all prisoners and offenders refused bail will be sent to stations in Forbes, Orange or Dubbo.

History shows that in 1883, a brick police lock-up was built in Currajong Street (up until yesterday the Parkes Police Station), while at the same time, a police residence was built at the corner of Court and Hill streets.

Parkes became Western Area Police Headquarters in 1936 with the officer-in-charge controlling from Blackheath to Broken Hill.

Today, Parkes is headquarters of the Lachlan Local Area Command under the control of Superintendent Bob Ryan.

With the original police station (façade and four rooms) being heritage listed, only the more recent additions at the rear of the station will be demolished as part of the new police station complex.