Ground broken for new Sheriff's Office buildings in Centerville

Sheriff Gary Driskell and members of the Sheriff's Office staff broke ground Thursday for the new Central Office Branch in Centerville. The building will bring together, for the first time, the Criminal, Patrol and Investigations Divisions, the motor pool and Dispatch-Communications. The branch will also have an evidence processing area and administrative offices.

"The main building at the branch will have 15,000 square feet. It was designed by Angelle Architects of Breaux Bridge and will be built by ARL Construction of Franklin.

"Today we are breaking ground on something far greater than bricks, mortar and steel," Driskell said. "We are breaking ground on a new era of service to the people of St. Mary Parish."

In an opening prayer, Lt. Oscar West asked God to make the new branch "a beacon of trust between the Sheriff's Office and the community they are called to protect."

The Review/Bill Decker