NEW STATION GIVES DEPUTIES MORE ELBOW ROOM : ROSAMOND OFFICE RELOCATES AFTER 71/2 YEARS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

After 7-1/2 years in a cramped, converted two-bedroom house, the Rosamond Sheriff's Station moved Friday into a new facility designed to grow with the needs of the community.

``It's been a long time coming,'' Kern County sheriff's Sgt. Jerry Sullivan said of the $200,000 headquarters. ``We're anxious and ready to get started.''

Kern County Sheriff Carl Sparks and 2nd District Supervisor Steve Perez broke ground in April on the 3,400-square-foot facility at 1379 Sierra Highway, less than two miles from the previous 1,200-square-foot station.

``This completes a major commitment that the Sheriff's Department made to the Rosamond community,'' said sheriff's Cmdr. Dave Merritt, who toured the facility Friday.

``This is like moving into a new house,'' he said. ``You have so many expectations.''

While plans originally called for a 2,500-square-foot facility, sheriff's officials said the contractor added onto the building at no extra charge.

The new headquarters includes offices for Perez, a sergeant, two senior deputies, a clerk and community volunteers, along with a squad room and two interview rooms. It also has men's and women's locker rooms, a kitchen and an evidence lockup area.

``Each deputy will now have an individual work station,'' said Sullivan, pointing to eight desks in the squad room. ``And investigators will have offices to conduct their investigations. Now if we have to bring inmates into the station, we don't have to keep them waiting in the lobby.''

As contractors put the finishing touches on the building, hooking up the electrical equipment and telephones, inmates helped deputies move in the large furniture and set up the offices.

To save money, inmates at Lerdo Jail in Bakersfield refinished the furniture from the old sheriff's station, Merritt said.

Officials were expected to begin operations today at the new headquarters.

The county will now pay $4,500 a month for seven years to lease the headquarters and has plans to expand if the population of Rosamond grows, officials said.

``Our offices are large enough that we could double up the desks and placed two deputies in one office,'' Sullivan said. ``Each desk is also have to separately locked drawers so two deputies can work at each desk.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--ran in SAC and AV--color in AV only) Cmdr. Da ve Merritt and Deputy Lindy Tebo stand out front the new Rosamond Sheriff's Station at 1379 Sierra Highway.

(2--ran in SAC and AV--color in AV only) Deputy Lindy Tebo puts away supplies and belongings in her desk at the new office, which is nearly triple the size of the converted two-bedroom house that served as the Rosamond station for 71/2 years.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News