GALLUP, New Mexico – The McKinley County Sheriff’s Department will open to the public in its newly renovated building on Tuesday, Feb. 17, following the completion of construction.

Located at 1000 E. Aztec Avenue, the new 14,000-square-foot facility replaces the department’s former 8,000-square-foot building. The expanded space provides room for additional offices and storage, a new workout facility, and an on-site specialized training simulator program.

“We are excited to move into our new building,” said Sheriff James Mariano. “This facility represents a significant upgrade from our previous location, which had numerous structural and space limitations.”

The former building required extensive repairs and was ultimately deemed too costly to rehabilitate. The primary issue involved foundation settling and shifting, which caused significant structural problems in the portion of the building occupied by the Sheriff’s Department.

An open house for the public will be scheduled once the department is fully settled into the new facility. Additional details will be announced at a later date.