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Stafford's new Public Safety Building, named for a county deputy who was killed in the line of duty 27 years ago, was dedicated last week with more than 150 people in attendance, including members of the family of the slain trooper.

For the first time, a single 114,000-square-foot structure houses under one roof the Sheriff's Office, the Fire & Rescue Department and the county's 911 Emergency Communications Center. Before the new building opened in February, they were scattered over six locations.

The presiding speaker, Board of Supervisors Chairman George Schwartz, pointed out that the building also is one of the first public safety projects in Virginia to be constructed under a 2002 state law giving counties the authority to create public-private partnerships to develop and build needed public entities.

The result, Schwartz said, was a partnership with the Information Technology sector of Northrop Grumman Corp., based in McLean. "Stafford was proud to partner with Northrop Grumman these last two years to bring our dreams to reality," Schwartz said.

Sheriff Charles Jett reaffirmed the success of the partnership. "I'd like to thank the building team at Northrop Grumman for bringing this project in on time and, more importantly, on budget," he said. The time was 25 months; the budget was $36.4 million.

Jett noted that the expanded facilities made it possible to host "a number of community meetings since our move." Also, the Citizens Police Academy last Thursday graduated the first class to go through the academy's 11-week program while at the Humphrey Building.

He said the new building, on Courthouse Road just west of the Stafford Administration Center, also made it possible "to work more closely with the community," with new interview rooms providing added levels of security, as well as being "child-friendly so as to minimize trauma associated with child abuse cases."

"Most importantly," Jett said, "this building is sized for growth for several years to come so that as the county grows we can keep pace within the walls of this facility."

Fire & Rescue Chief Rob Brown, who became the department's first overall chief in 2005, told the gathering, "the ability to co-locate the county's public safety assets has far-reaching benefits. Our inter-agency incident management and our communications and planning capabilities are greatly enhanced."

In concluding his remarks, Sheriff Jett said, "For 28 years," Jett concluded, "Toby's family, coworklers, friends and those of us at the Sheriff's office have waited for the opportunity to properly recognize Toby Hemph-rey for his service and sacrifice to this county."

Among those in the audience who also participated afterward in a blue-ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the building, were Deputy Humphrey's wife, Kay, who still lives in the Stafford area; his three sisters, Marie Hayden, Martha Queen and Bonnie Loving; and an aunt, Jean Carley, and uncle, Jack Whitson.

Hugh Muir: 540/735-1975
Email: hmuir@freelancestar.com