(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Pleasant Prairie, Wis. — Residents in Pleasant Prairie will get their first public look inside the community’s new police station during an open house on Saturday, April 12, offering a glimpse into what law enforcement officials say is a facility built for both the present and the future.
Located just south of Village Hall at 10111 39th Avenue, the new 58,000-square-foot station represents a significant leap forward for the Pleasant Prairie Police Department. After years of planning and construction, the department has fully transitioned into its new headquarters and will welcome the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for tours, demonstrations, and a chance to meet officers and staff. Admission is free and parking will be available on-site.
The new building replaces the department’s longtime home in the Roger Prange Municipal Building, where cramped space and outdated infrastructure had become barriers to efficient service. Planning for a new facility began in 2016, with final design approval in early 2023. Construction kicked off that May and wrapped up by the end of 2024.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
“This station was designed collaboratively, by officers and staff who know what’s needed day in and day out,” Chief Dave Smetana told KCE during a tour last fall. “We didn’t hire consultants—we sat down as a team and said: What do we have now? What do we need? What do we wish we had? And then we got to work.”
Designed for Growth—and Emergencies
The facility includes a digital evidence lab, expanded interview and processing rooms, an upgraded dispatch center, administrative offices, and a secure underground parking garage. The lower level houses a defensive tactics training area, locker rooms, and a climate-controlled evidence room equipped with modern forensic tools. Officers now have designated space for drone equipment, body camera storage, and even narcotics testing within a purpose-built drug hood.
Chief Smetana said the building was laid out with future growth in mind. The department currently has 40 officers, but space has been reserved for more personnel, additional captains, and supervisory staff.
“Most villages of this size don’t have law enforcement departments this advanced,” Smetana said. “But Pleasant Prairie is lucky to be balanced between business and residential, which gives us the revenue and responsibility to do this right.”
New Tools, New Tactics
Among the many additions is a virtual training simulator, which Smetana said will help officers refine decision-making and de-escalation skills. The department also introduced a jiu-jitsu program for defensive tactics—an effort to reduce injuries and improve outcomes during use-of-force encounters.
“We used to tell cops, ‘Don’t end up on the ground,’ but every fight ends up on the ground,” Smetana said. “Now we’re teaching them how to control a situation safely when that happens.”
The station includes dedicated soft-interview rooms for victims and family members, a secure holding area for detainees, and a reconfigurable Emergency Operations Center ready to respond in a crisis.
Dispatch has also been reimagined, with four fully equipped stations to handle calls, fire co-dispatch, and public works emergencies. The upgrade replaces a system where, until recently, dispatchers had to leave their post just to use the restroom.
“It’s little things that make a big difference in quality of work and in retention,” said Smetana, who began his law enforcement career nearly 30 years ago in Racine. “We want this to be a place where people want to come work—and want to stay.”
Built by and for the Community
From solar panels on the roof to crash-resistant glass at the entry, the building is designed with sustainability and safety in mind. During the tour, Smetana pointed to areas where local kids’ groups and civic organizations will be invited for tours and public events. One conference room has already hosted early meetings for community groups, with more planned.
In the lobby, visitors will find a wall display honoring public service, including a patch from the late Ron Kosman, a local contributor to the department.
“We want people to walk in and feel proud of their police department,” Smetana said. “We want them to feel invited. And we want them to know we’re prepared.”
The public grand opening in April will be followed by a more formal community event this spring. Until then, Chief Smetana says he’s just looking forward to filling the hallways with his officers again.
“I miss my cops,” he said, smiling. “But I know they’re going to love it here.”
Here are some photos KCE took during our tour:
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
34 Responses
And of course, a tax payer budget for challenge coins.
smh
Challenge coins can be a great way to help keep morale up and create and maintain camaraderie. That said, the challenge coins in the Chief’s room are his own collection. 99% from other departments. I don’t know of and police, sheriffs, or fire department that don’t utilize challenge coins as tools. Have a great day
Are these kids or grown adults that want/needs coins?
The coins are a pretty big deal. You get them by earning them. They aren’t just handed out for no reason
Yeah like when you play Pokémon Go….that stuff is earned.
Probably coming from someone who has never served!!!
Wait, people do drugs in PP? I thought that was only in Kenosha.
Chief got his PD. Now can he retire??
That Chief is corrupt as the day is long right Kevin?
The wall of patches should come down if we are just going to call Ron a local contributor. How callous. It just shows the Chief has such a caring, wonderful heart. NOT!!
Our tax dollars being wasted again! What an over sized building. How much went to back room deals?
The story didn’t mention. Not just the budget but the bid, the overruns, the new furniture , the whole shebang ?? Final tally.
As for too big. Would you rather they built it just right ? For Now ? And then what ? Have them say it’s too small in 20 years before it even needs a new roof ?
Come to the voters in 20 years and say we need more space ? And have that “more space” cost more than what they spent today ?
This shows the thinking that, build it once, make it big enough to accommodate future use. Make it nice enough whereas NOBODY can complain about working conditions !
Once you have achieved that, then hold them to complete excellence and transparency in doing their jobs ! They have nothing else to complain about.
These people are willing to be in a job where they might not come home. Of all public servants in our community, who else deserves a functional place to safely do their work ?
Taxpayer dollars to pamper public servants.
Since the pampered public servants got to design the building was there oversight as to keeping the price down or did they get everything on their wish list at the public’s expense?
$pend its only taxpayer money!!
More wasteful “use-it-or-lose-it” spending. Infuriating.
I bet you complainers whining about the taxpaying dollars Wouldn’t be if it was a son or daughter of yours working on the police force. Give it a rest.
Actually yes, I have 4 family members who serve and they know it’s a waste of tax money. Nice try though.
Does Steinbrink Jr have his own room there?
Yes,the holding cell.
The patches are the work of former officer Ron Kosman who probably had close to 30 years on as a police officer and was known by everyone. Please correct the article out of respect for Ron may he rest in peace.
A voice to text fail means that I dishonored a man? You people get wackier everyday I swear
Kevin these wacky people are the reason people come to this page!
Agreed. To be called a local contributor is horrible. Ron started at Pleasant Prairie when the pd was still at Fire Station #2. Then the pd moved to the Prange Building where Ron’s patch collection was displayed until the move into the new pd. It makes me wonder if that is how Chief referred to Ron…as a contributor. Ron helped build that department.
Give me a call. The chief told me all about Ron but perhaps I didn’t do a good enough job of taking notes. I’d like to add more about this beloved police officer but I did not know him. 262 237 8501
We voted for a referendum to do this. Everyone wants to put signs in their yards that they support the blue. Then cry when they actually have to pay them. Crybabies. And hypocrites.
The referendum was for people on police and fire and not for buildings. The PD was definitely needed. But was not apart of referendum money.
Who do you think works in the buildings? It is for the people!
No shit. But the referendum money was not used for the building. Also don’t forget the referendum didn’t increase your taxes. Look up the facts of the referendum
What did this cost ??
I’m not sure. Millions
I’m sure we could save millions if we look into cutting police and sheriff funding. I 100 percent support what they do. But they use public safety as leverage to get the ridiculous budgets and blow the money on useless equipment training event, and toys. Kevin you should really investigate the spending on these departments.
25 millions
So now its done