Columbia PD, municipal courts, and other bureaus set to consolidate into former Aflac building

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — City officials are announcing plans to consolidate over ten different bureaus at three locations into one location — including the Columbia Police Department.

According to Chief Skip Holbrook and other city officials, the former Aflac building at the corner of Huger and Laurel Streets is set to become the new “Law Enforcement and Judicial Center” — housing the Columbia PD, municipal courts, emergency management, and a number of other bureaus and offices.

Chief Holbrook says the 172,000 square foot, six-story building has adequate space to hold current and future staffing levels for all of their core bureaus.

“We have a lot on our plate, and we do that with a staff that is not at full staffing, so it’s not about planning for the moment that we’re in, it’s planning for our full capacity and the future growth that we expect,” Holbrook says.

The consolidation also makes room for greater collaboration, says Mayor Daniel Rickenmann.

“When you’ve got leaders, specialists, officers, detectives, analysts, all working together in one building being able to share information and ideas, it’s also really great for recruiting to show we’re invested in our law enforcement,” Rickenmann says.

City Manager Teresa Wilson says the city is budgeting $11 million for the lease-to-own project, which will be broken into three phases, moving the police department into the building first.

“The location for the law enforcement and judicial center was chosen with intention and purpose near the I-126 gateway to Columbia, and it will welcome our citizens, businesses, and visitors to a safe and thriving city.”

The consolidation also means Columbia p-d’s current location at 1 Justice Square in the Vista and several buildings around the city — will be back on the market.

City officials say they expect construction and up fitting of phase one to begin in April or May of next year.