06/23/2026
🚓 Owatonna's Police Department operates out of a nearly 60-year-old building that was originally a commercial bank. After decades of heavy use, the facility faces several health, safety and infrastructure challenges, including:
➡️Lack of secure holding areas to separate people in custody from officers, staff and the public
➡️Insufficient private space for sensitive conversations with victims, witnesses or families
➡️A building layout that was not designed for police operations creates operational inefficiencies
➡️Lack of space for officer training, rest and recovery after long or stressful calls
➡️Aging infrastructure, including water leaks, outdated heating and cooling systems and failing windows
💻 These ongoing challenges increase costs, disrupt daily police work and make it harder for first responders to deliver the emergency services residents rely on. Visit YourProtectionOurPriority.org/challenges to learn more about the City's plan to improve public safety facilities.