New co-located police station and animal shelter to open soon in Lorton

The new Lorton District Police Station and Fairfax County Animal Shelter – Lorton Campus are expected to open sometime in September 2023, according to Fairfax County officials.

Construction of the $33 million facility, which co-locates the new Lorton District Police Station with the county’s second animal shelter, began back in March 2021 and will wrap up in August with the installation of the long-awaited generator for the shelter.

Speaking at the July 2023 general membership meeting of the South County Federation, shelter director Reasa Currier said they “cannot be more eager to open the shelter’s doors” because the existing facility in Fairfax is full. Once the 23,000 square-foot shelter in Lorton opens, residents of Southeast Fairfax County will find it more convenient to access shelter programs, she said, noting that it will offer training and education programs, low-cost veterinary care and free pet food for those in need, as well as a robust volunteer program and foster program.

The adjacent 34,000 square-foot police station, which will serve the county’s second largest police district, will open “methodically and incrementally” due to staffing challenges, said Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis. During the first phase, Capt. Richard Morvillo will become the first-ever commander for the station, along with a police lieutenant, a mix of police and civilian staff, and new community outreach specialist Shirley Ginwright.

Capt. Richard Morvillo will serve as the Lorton District Police Station's inaugural commander. (Credit: Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck's Office/FCPD)

Capt. Morvillo will be tasked with setting up the station’s community advisory committee and getting crime prevention programs underway “immediately,” said Davis. Once fully staffed, the station will have seven officers patrolling the Lorton District; until then, the community will continue to be policed by officers from Sully, West Springfield and Franconia Districts.

Davis said he’s feeling “cautiously optimistic” about the upward trend in police applicants after the 63% drop during the pandemic. “We’re punching our way out of that,” he said.

A few months ago, Davis noted, the county had its largest academy class since 2014, and the next one starting Sept. 11 will be even larger.

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Besides participating in the grand opening event for the new facility in September, the police station plans to hold a public safety open house in October.

Earlier this year, at the Mount Vernon District Town Meeting, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck described the co-located police station and animal shelter as a “wonderful new addition to the South County community.”

The Lorton District Police Station and Fairfax County Animal Shelter – Lorton Campus are located at the Lorton Road Triangle site between Workhouse and Hooes Roads. The police station’s address is 8855 Lorton Road, while the animal shelter’s address is 8875 Lorton Road.