County Asks Residents to Vote on Bronze Lion Sculpture for Police Station

Los Alamos County's Art in Public Places Board opened a public survey asking residents to choose between two bronze lion sculpture designs proposed for placement outside the Los Alamos Police Station, with voting available online through April 5, 2026.

The Los Alamos Police Department requested the lion sculpture, citing a longstanding tradition in law enforcement symbolism: "lions are widely used in law enforcement symbolism to represent strength, courage, protection, and vigilance," according to the county.

The proposed site is the area between the Justice Center and the Police Station facing the north parking lot, though the exact placement has not been finalized. The artwork will complement site improvements planned as part of the Police Memorial renovation, but the county was explicit that the sculpture proposal is separate from the memorial itself.

The survey includes four short questions and displays images of both sculpture designs to help residents make an informed choice. Community feedback will guide the Art in Public Places Board's preferred design recommendation to the Los Alamos County Council, which will make the final determination on which design moves forward.

No artists' names, project cost, funding source, or installation timeline were included in the county's announcement. The survey link was not available in the county's published release, but residents seeking more information can contact Chelsea Ashcraft at chelsea.ashcraft@losalamosnm.gov or (505) 662-8261.