Groundbreaking For Detroit's New Public Safety Headquarters

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit's mayor and police chief were on hand Wednesday for groundbreaking of the city's new public safety headquarters.

WWJ's Florence Walton reports that the new building is scheduled to open in the summer of 2013.

Mayor Dave Bing expects greater efficiency with the centralized headquarters.

Chief Ralph Godbee say it will be great to have police, fire, EMS, homeland security and hopefully a new state police forensics labratory all in one building.

" ... I think as you take a look around this is symbolic of the heavy lifting and transformation that (they mayor) has to do for the city of Detroit," said Godbee.

"In recent months we have seen just atrocious crimes committed against Detroit's good citizens; our children and our seniors (the crime is) causing grief to our community," said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade who was among those on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony.

The city paid more than $6 million for the old MGM Grand casino building along the lodge freeway and bonds have been issued for the $60 million dollar conversion into the public saftey headquarters.