Campbell County, KY (April 28, 2026) - Campbell County broke ground on a new 58,000-square-foot public safety building at 1114 Racetrack Road in unincorporated Campbell County, marking a major milestone in the effort to bring the Campbell County Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, Consolidated Dispatch Center, and Coroner’s Office under one roof for the first time.

The ceremony, held at 1:00 p.m., brought together county officials, public safety leaders, project partners, and community members for a ceremonial groundbreaking led by Judge/Executive Steve Pendery. The event featured the Campbell County Police Department Honor Guard, the National Anthem performed by Officer Josh Wilhoit, live bagpipes by Josh Quinn, and an aerial flyover by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2026 and take 18 to 24 months to complete. Conger Construction Group is serving as construction manager and Brandstetter Carroll Inc. is the project architect.

“This groundbreaking is about more than a building,” said Judge/Executive Steve Pendery. “It is about the safety and future of our community, and when our police, emergency management, dispatch, and coroner’s office are all working together under one roof, they can respond faster, communicate better, and serve our residents better.”

The new facility will replace a collection of outdated, rented, and borrowed spaces currently used by the four agencies. The Campbell County Police Department and Office of Emergency Management are located in an aging building on Constable Drive. The Consolidated Dispatch Center operates from the Newport City Building, and the Coroner’s Office rents space from a funeral home for storage and laboratory work.

“Our officers, social workers, civilian staff, and specialized units have been doing outstanding work in a building that was never designed for the scope of our operations,” said Campbell County Police Chief Craig Sorrell. “This new facility will provide the Campbell County Police Department with the space, functionality, and environment needed to match the high standards our people uphold every single day.”

The Campbell County Police Department’s Police Social Worker program serves unincorporated Campbell County, Silver Grove, Bellevue, Dayton, and smaller cities including Melbourne, California, Crestview, and Mentor. The new facility includes dedicated space to grow that program.

“The new building gives our team dedicated, professional space specifically designed for what we do,” said Laurie Wilson, Police Social Worker supervisor with the Campbell County Police Department. “When you have the right environment, you can serve more people more effectively, and that means reaching more of the people in our community who need help most.”

“This is a great day for Campbell County and everyone who calls it home,” said Campbell County Sheriff Mike Jansen. “Bringing our public safety agencies together under one roof is going to make this county stronger, safer, and better positioned to serve our residents for generations to come.”

The Consolidated Dispatch Center, which handled more than 150,000 calls in 2024, will move from its current location to a purpose-built facility.

“Our telecommunicators are the first first responders,” said Kim Dornheggen, executive director of the Campbell County Consolidated Dispatch Center. “Before anyone sees a police officer or a paramedic, they hear one of our team members, and they answer the call, dispatch resources, and stay on the line until help arrives.”

The new building will also house a FEMA-hardened emergency operations center for the Office of Emergency Management, which has held StormReady certification from the National Weather Service since 2005 and renewed that designation in December 2024.

“During a major emergency, OEM and dispatch are essentially operating as one system,” said William Ray Turner, director of the Campbell County Office of Emergency Management. “When we are under the same roof, we can coordinate in real time, respond faster, and protect this community more effectively than ever before.”

The Coroner’s Office, which currently rents space for storage and laboratory sampling, will move into dedicated space designed specifically for its mission as part of the new complex.

“We investigate cause and manner of death and provide answers to families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” said Coroner Mark Schweitzer. “A purpose-built space means we can do our job correctly, efficiently, and with the level of respect it demands.”

“Every space in this building was designed specifically for its mission,” said Larry Brandstetter, principal at Brandstetter Carroll Inc. “It is a facility built from the ground up around the work these agencies do every day, and that distinction will be felt by every person who works here and every resident they serve.”

“This project is a long-term investment in the safety and future of Campbell County,” said Justin Conger of Conger Construction Group. “We are committed to delivering a facility that the people of Campbell County can be proud of for decades to come.”

The project site spans more than 17 acres in unincorporated Campbell County. The land was purchased across three parcels at a total cost of $1.6 million, with each acquired at its independently assessed value.

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