Thurston County finalizes $14.3 million building purchase for new sheriff station Friday
Thurston County has finalized the purchase of a new building for the Sheriff’s Office.
The county paid $14.25 million for a 56,000-square-foot building on a 2.36-acre site at 1111 Israel Road SW, which is near Tumwater High School and Interstate 5.
“This purchase is a crucial investment in the future of our community and a testament to our shared commitment to public safety,” Chair of the Board of County Commissioners Tye Menser said in a Friday news release. “It’s a milestone made possible by the community’s support of the Public Safety Sales Tax.”
The county expects to fully own the building by Saturday, according to county documents.
With this acquisition, the county can move forward with a plan to consolidate the Sheriff’s Office policing operations at a centralized headquarters. The purchase follows a multi-year search for a suitable building that can house about 130 staff members and meet the Sheriff’s Office growing space needs.
“Our detectives, patrol staff, and support staff will be together in one building enabling improved information sharing and speedier response times,” Sheriff Derek Sanders in the release. “The additional space will also allow us to hire and house new deputies.”
The Board of County Commissioners approved a purchase agreement in September 2024 and the county initially made a $500,000 deposit, The Olympian previously reported. The remaining $13.75 million was paid on Friday, according to county documents.
The agreement called for a 105-day inspection period before the full amount would be paid. A review team determined the building was in good condition and should not require major capital investments for 10 years, documents show.
The county expects to spend $4 million to renovate the building. An additional $1.75 million will be used to create a vehicle impound facility and potentially an outdoor shooting range.
That brings the total cost of the project to about $20 million. The county intends to pay for that with revenue from the Public Safety Sales Tax, which voters approved in November 2023.
“Thank you to the citizens of Thurston County for supporting the Public Safety Sales Tax,” Sanders said. “No office benefits from your investment more than us, and we will continue to improve our services to you.”
The county expects to complete a final design for the building renovation by June and start construction in August, county documents show.
The Sheriff’s Office plans to move into the building by spring 2026.
In the news release, Commissioner Wayne Fournier said this project will help the Sheriff’s Office effectively serve the community and meet increasing demand for public safety services.
“This acquisition reflects our dedication to providing sustainable, cost-effective, and long-term facilities that not only address the immediate needs but also plan for future growth” Fournier said.
The county population surpassed 300,000 in 2022 and has continued to grow. In 2024, the county had about 307,000 people, according to Washington State Office of Financial Management.
The county opted to buy a building rather than to construct an entirely new facility to save money. For example, the Lacey Police Department is currently building a new $60 million police station between Lacey City Hall and Interstate 5.
County Manager Leonard Hernandez said the acquisition shows the county’s dedication to saving tax-payer dollars.
“The purchase of this building for the Sheriff’s office is a clear indication that the Board of County Commissioners supports public safety, and that our team of professionals can acquire infrastructure in a thoughtful and economical manner that achieves the goal while being good stewards of tax-payer dollars,” Hernandez said. “This is how we continue to build community trust.”
This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM.
