Henrico County unveils new $15.2M police station

Henrico County officials opened the doors to the county's new $15.2-million South Station police building today, marking a major investment in public safety.

The 19,900-square-foot building houses Henrico Police units assigned to patrol, special operations and emergency response. It also includes administrative offices, training and conference rooms, breakrooms, exercise and locker facilities and a garage bay.

“It's a truly great day for our police division and all of the dedicated officers and staff who work around the clock to keep our county both safe and secure,” said Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson. “This state-of-the-art facility is great not only for the communities of the Varina District, but for all of Henrico County.”

South Station includes a 5,000-square-foot K-9 training center with six kennels and two fenced outdoor areas. Until recently, Henrico County did not have a dedicated K-9 training facility and had to rely upon neighboring jurisdictions for training space.

“Our handlers and canines now have a place to call home, where they can train their dogs and make their living quarters more comfortable,” said Henrico Police Chief Eric English.

The building also includes an emergency communications training center that can serve as a backup 911 call center; the first training session is scheduled for this fall.

The station, located at 640 North Airport Drive, replaces leased space on Eastpark Court, only a few miles away, which served the division for more than 20 years.

The station’s new location gives it a more visible presence in a part of the county that has experienced higher-than-average levels of crime and drug activity in recent years.

According to 2024 Henrico County violent crime data, homicides are down 16% from 2023. During a press conference earlier this month, English said he expects a significant decrease in homicides in 2025 as the department focuses on “hot spot areas to ensure officers are responding to gunshot calls and arresting individuals that are creating some of the havoc in our neighborhoods.”

Some residents living in so-called crime hot spots say the numbers don’t reflect the reality they experience each day, according to CBS 6 Crime Insider Jon Burkett.

“This facility is very visible in the community, right off of main thoroughfare Airport drive, it is easily accessible to the public, so we're no longer hidden. We're riding right out in the open,” English said. “This is truly a community police station.”

South Station is part of more than $177 million in capital projects in Eastern Henrico in recent years, including the new Highland Springs High School, Bungalow City Firehouse No. 23, and renovations to the Oak Avenue Complex, Nelson said.

“What we're seeing here at South Station is another tangible example of the positive growth happening in Henrico,” said Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas. “Our infrastructure is growing, our services are expanding, and when that happens, your county government will continue to meet the changing needs that come with growth.”

Public safety accounts for just more than $300 million in Henrico County’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget, including funding for police, fire, the sheriff’s office, emergency communications and other essential services, making it the county’s second-largest investment category after education.

“Communities thrive when residents and businesses are safe, and they feel safe,” Nelson said.