POLICE OFFICERS protecting the Northside will soon be calling a new headquarters home.

And they might be doing it in time for Christmas.

Public Works Director Thelman Boyd said the city of Jackson is in the middle of a $90,000 project to build out Precinct Four’s new headquarters, located on the second floor of the old Primos building at 4436 North State St.

“Our target date is (to be finished) by the middle or last of December,” he said, offering details of the construction project.

Crews are now running electrical wiring and computer outlets, as well as building in new walls to accommodate the Northside precinct’s roughly 40 officers, support personnel and command staff.

While city crews are working on the inside, property owner Ali Jamilia is responsible for improving the outside of the facility, as well as installing an elevator to make the facility handicapped-accessible.

The decision to move was announced in February, about two months after Fondren’s board of directors voted to increase rent to $3,000 on the precinct’s current facility at 2819 North State. Before that, the city had been paying about $1,200 a month to stay in the three-story building.

Recently, the city council entered into a month-by-month agreement to remain in the building until the new facility is finished. The new building is approximately 7,000 square feet.

In a previous interview, Jackson Director of Communications Christopher Mims said the new location cost $3,000 a month through the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year, the same as the rent at the current headquaters, but was increased to $3,800 a month on October 1.