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Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith will host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly upgraded 911 Communication Center on Friday, June 7, at 9 a.m. The event will take place at the facility’s new location at 54100 Dollar Road.

The communication center recently became fully operational following an extensive upgrade and relocation effort. In early May, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Communication Division moved into the Dollar Road facility, marking the culmination of months of planning, equipment installation, and system testing.

The building itself was constructed more than a decade ago but remained unused due to financial constraints, political delays, and a lack of planning. Sheriff Smith, who made the project a priority after his election, led the effort to revitalize the facility and bring it online.

“This is a tremendous asset for law enforcement and emergency management in Washington Parish,” Smith said. “Bringing this center online ensures we are prepared to meet the growing needs of our community with faster, more efficient communication.”

The upgraded center features state-of-the-art technology and will serve as a centralized hub for dispatching law enforcement across the parish. Officials say the new configuration will improve information-sharing among agencies and enhance support for patrol deputies, aiding both real-time response and investigative efforts.

Plans include further consolidating law enforcement dispatch operations under one roof, streamlining communication across jurisdictions, and enhancing overall public safety coordination.