Mollohan takes a moment to meet with city officials before addressing those present at the tour of the newly renovated city police department. Pictured from left are Detective Donnie Harris, Congressman Alan B. Mollohan, Councilman Steve Pallisco, Mayor Lucille Blum, and New Martinsville Police Chief Tim Cecil.

On Thursday Congressman Alan B. Mollohan made a visit to the New Martinsville Police Department to tour the newly renovated and equipped police department made possible by a $75,000 Resource Grant from the Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which is funded through Mollohan’s Appropriations Subcommittee. Mayor Lucille Blum commented this is the first time the department has been renovated. Several prominent members of the city and community gathered to tour the new facility early Thursday morning.

“We had the space, but not the equipment,” Councilman Steve Pallisco stated. Renovations to the department include a more functional desk in the dispatch office. Not only is the furniture more spatially practical, it’s also fully equipped with technology and software that will better serve the department and the community such as new LCD monitors, a weapons terminal, and many useful electronic devices.

The NMPD also received a fresh coat of paint with the help of nine college students from an on-site educational program through Wheeling Jesuit University. The students helped paint several rooms in the department while learning about law enforcement.

Other changes and additions to the department include new carpeting and office furniture. Storage rooms were also converted into functional offices with the help of the resources provided by the grant. Mayor Blum noted Detective Donnie Harris took a great deal of time and effort into coordinating the renovations.

Congressman Mollohan commended the department on an impressive job well done, noting what had been added would increase the department’s ability to do law enforcement. He, along with Chief Tim Cecil, especially thanked Lauttamus Communications for their hard work in helping revamp various aspects of the department.

In closing, Mayor Lucille Blum and Recorder Bonnie Shannon presented Congressman Mollohan with a key to the city. The congressman very gratefully accepted the token and many stayed to enjoy conversation and refreshments. The Wetzel County Commission also extended their thanks for Mollohan’s support to the community.

Mollohan, chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Justice Department, inserted the grant into the department’s annual spending bill.

The equipment grant was provided by the Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which helps local law enforcement agencies defray the cost of equipment and staffing needed to keep their communities safe. Mollohan’s subcommittee funded the COPS program nationally at $550 million.