U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the new Sandusky Bay Station, located in Port Clinton, Ohio. This state of the art facility makes CBP history as the first building to bring all three CBP components – Office of Border Patrol, Office of Field Operations and Office of Air and Marine – together under one roof.

click for hi-res CBP Assistant Commissioner Eugene Schied, Office of Administration, John Beutlich, Northern Border Director of Air and Marine Operations, Randy Gallegos, Chief Patrol Agent for Detroit Sector Border Patrol and Steven Artino, Acting Director of Field Operations in Chicago cut the ribbon on the new Sandusky Bay Station.

U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) hailed the event as a "very historic moment" and praised the "magnificent facility."

"This idea of co-locating has morphed from a best practice to a necessity," said Randy Gallegos, Chief Patrol Agent for Detroit Sector Border Patrol. "In a time of fiscal constraint and austerity, this is the way to go."

John Beutlich, Northern Border Director of Air and Marine Operations said, "I have no doubt that this facility will be a template for others to emulate."

“This station will enhance CBP’s ability to work collaboratively and effectively in Northern Ohio,” said Steven Artino, Acting Director of Field Operations in Chicago. “And most importantly, this means more efficient border security for the nation.”

By eliminating duplication, one building will reduce redundancies for construction and maintenance while providing shared spaces for all components to work collaboratively.

Building features include:

• Parking garage;
• Inside boat storage;
• Office space;
• Detention facilities;
• Meeting rooms for public and CBP events;
• Fitness and locker rooms;
• Canine facilities; and
• Space for functions

CBP Assistant Commissioner Eugene Schied, Office of Administration, along with partner federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and congressional and community leaders were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the new integrated facility.

The creation of CBP within the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 brought three components together under one national security umbrella. Now CBP brings OBP, OFO and OAM agents and officers together under one roof in this new Sandusky Bay Station to enhance security for Northern Ohio and for the nation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.