Residents and community groups will now have an easier time accessing meeting rooms within the Moose Jaw Police Service building as the organization has opened a new space on the main floor.
The police service (MJPS) unveiled the newly renovated multi-purpose classroom — renovations began in January — on May 2 during the Board of Police Commissioners’ monthly meeting. The space, which previously held the Community and Strategic Services (CSS) unit, will host public gatherings, board meetings, officer training, and other activities.
The CSS unit and Victim Services were relocated across the street a year ago into a space in the former Times-Herald building.
“We have recognized for a long time that we needed a meeting space within our building that is accessible to the community,” said Deputy Chief Rick Johns. “We are happy to unveil this new classroom to the community of Moose Jaw.”
The classroom — which can hold 20 people — can serve as a command centre when the MJPS deals with major emergencies or incidents. The space is large enough that it can house all emergency personnel involved in meeting and assessing situations, is in a centralized location in the building and is accessible.
It can also be used for press conferences because the audio/visual enhancements allow for communication with members, the public, and other emergency personnel.
The police service chose the new audio/visual equipment after consulting with organizations that have a similar room layout and A/V professionals. The new multi-purpose room features three monitors and two cameras installed at different angles to allow for more accessible meetings, either in person or virtually.
Two cameras allow the MJPS to record the presenter and participants during a virtual meeting. There is also the possibility of displaying presentations and agendas and recording Board of Police Commissioner meetings to make for an easier and more enjoyable experience for those attending in person or virtually.
Also, the additional screens serve as an operational function during the management of critical incidents, as several officers in the room may have different functions and need independent screens and feeds. The room also allows for versatile functionality due to the furnishings that the organization purchased.
Meanwhile, the police service will continue to use the second-floor classroom/board room as a secondary meeting space, with the future goal of turning it into additional offices.
