Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz visited Weston on Tuesday to help First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor cut the ribbon on long-needed renovations to the locker room at the Weston Police Department headquarters.

The $500,000 renovation was made possible by a state grant. The project includes a new air conditioning and heating system and, notably, a dedicated facility for female police officers.

It has been a while since a woman was among the ranks of Weston police, a shortcoming the department’s leadership hopes to remedy in future hiring. One potential recruitment obstacle is now removed.

The project was funded by the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), the same fund from which the Town was awarded a grant late last year to replace the Department of Public Works roof with solar panels that will provide all the electricity needed to power the entire Town campus.

Participating in the dedication of the new facility, from left to right in the photo above, Selectman Tony Pesco, Police Chief Ed Henion, John Dembishack of the Police Commission, Mark Allen, the project architect, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, Police Commissioner Dawn Egan, way in back Jon Dillon, a Weston Volunteer Fire Department captain, Police Commission chair Beth Gralnick, Darcy Barrera-Hawes, the First Selectwoman's executive assistant, Sgt. Joe Miceli, and police commissioners Frank Ferrara and Woody Bliss.

On the right, project engineer Victoria Houle, with her newborn.