A blast from the past landed at Quinte West City Hall Friday as city officials, members of the OPP and former members of the Trenton Police Service opened a time capsule put in the former police headquarters in 1985.

Former Trenton Police chiefs, officers and board members joined with their OPP counterparts and others to open the capsule which had been placed behind the cornerstone plaque at the Robert Campney Building.

A new building to house the OPP, next door to the former building, is near completion and should be ready for occupancy early in 2020.

Among those on hand was former police chief David Saunders, who served as chief for 21 years, including when the Campney building was opened in 1985.

“It’s not every day when one will see a sod turn, a ribbon cut, then work many years and then end up cracking the capsule,” he said.

“It was a privilege to serve the city of Trenton and staff, we had good staff members and that means a lot.”

Also on hand for the event was former chief Roger Dingman, who served with Saunders, current OPP detachment commander Insp. Christina Reive and Staff Sergeant Greg MacLellan who will become the only person to serve in all three police stations when the OPP move into their new building.

MacLellan recalled working in the old stone building in the Market Square when he first joined the Trenton force in 1985.

“That was a trying building to work in,” he said. “You had to go outside to go upstairs. It was quite exciting to get into the new building. It was a wonderful facility. It was a great place to work.

“We were still typing with old typewriters, not even electric typewriters. You were either writing with a pen or hunt and peck on an old typewriter.”

The capsule contained a variety of items ranging from the police force annual report to photographs of the sod turning and opening ceremonies for the building.

It also contained a pair of force shoulder flashes and a Trenton Police Service badge which Saunders noted he had designed and developed while chief.

“I wanted to come up with a new badge so I got the standard badge with no crest on it,” he said. “Then I went and got a town crest and I welded it to the badge, so it stood out.

“And was a long time ago.”

The capsule also contained a copy of the city bylaw authorizing construction of the 1985 building by Wieger De John Construction Ltd for $789,000. The new building is budgeted at more than $10 million.

Mayor Jim Harrison noted how much things have changed dramatically in every aspect of the community, from the price tag of the police headquarters to what the building is now being used for.

He noted that the original building was built for 28 people in 1985; when the city amalgamated in 1997, staff jumped to 70 people.

“This is only one aspect of a change that is absolutely necessary to be ready and to be prepared for a safe community and what can be done,” he said. “People have to work in a good quality, safe environment which allows everyone to work effectively and efficiently.

“That’s what this does for us. It gives Quinte West OPP detachment people a chance to work in a good safe environment and meet the demands ahead of us. There are many demands, and they are increasing every day.”

Harrison said the city is slated to take over the building, which is being constructed by Task Force Engineering, near the end of December. The OPP will then be responsible for setting the building up and moving in.

He said that should be completed by the end of February.

“This means a lot to me,” Harrison said of the new building. “I have been a strong proponent of this. I believe in a good safe work environment. I believe that is part of mental health for all of us. So the new facility is a big plus for us.”

Demolition of the old building should take place some time in February, he said.