BOYLE HEIGHTS — City officials, led by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William Bratton, were on hand Saturday for the official grand opening of the new Hollenbeck Police Station.

The station, located at 2111 E. First St., just a couple of blocks away from the old station, has been in use since late July.

The 54,000 square feet, state-of-the art facility will house more than 282 patrol officers, detectives and support staff who will serve the diverse communities who live, work or visit the 15.8-square-mile Hollenbeck area.

Capt. Anita Ortega is the commanding officer of the Hollenbeck division.

The new station is 10 times the size of the former station and offers officers and the public many modern features, including an outdoor community gathering space. It also has plenty of parking space, something sorely lacking at the old station.

“The new Hollenbeck Police Station is symbolic of the rebirth that we’re experiencing here in Boyle Heights,” City Councilman Jose Huizar, who represents the area, said. “This community has waited a long time for the type of high-quality amenities and services we’re starting to enjoy.”

He cited the new station, the recently opened Mendez Learning Center — the first new high school in the area in 80 years — and the soon-to-open Eastside Extension of the MTA Gold Line as other signs of progress in the community.

Huizar also praised Chief Bratton and the LAPD for working more closely with the community to reduce crimes and said the new station will offer officers the kind of conveniences they deserve as well as the tools they need to fight crime.

“Chief Bratton has ushered in the kind of community policing that has led to new alliances, trust and friendship between officers and the community, and nowhere is that more evident than in neighborhoods like El Sereno and Boyle Heights,” Huizar said.

“The officers and the community deserve a great deal of credit for making that happen and the new Hollenbeck Community Police Station will allow officers and the community to build on this relationship for years to come.”

Residents were allowed to tour the new station prior to the formal opening and the LAPD demonstrated some of its specialized units outside the station, which also featured entertainment from local talent and samples of food from local restaurants.