Boca Raton might get a brand new police station if voters approve a March 2026 poll referendum query that will permit metropolis officers to spend the cash to take action.
The proposed police station might be constructed alongside Damaged Sound Boulevard between Spanish River Library and the Boca Raton Innovation Campus. The town’s present police station is at 100 NW Boca Raton Blvd., simply south of the Brightline station.
Although metropolis workers offered a location to the Metropolis Council at a gathering Monday, the referendum query solely entails the financing of the challenge, which, if accredited, would come from $175 million of bond funds.
“A variety of progress has been made, however we’re nonetheless very early within the planning,” Deputy Metropolis Supervisor and town’s Chief Monetary Officer Jim Zervis stated through the assembly.
Zervis detailed to the council why a brand new police division is required, which incorporates:
— The present facility isn’t large enough to carry the variety of staff and quantity of proof and tools.
— Important restore and upkeep is required on the present facility.
— Outdated expertise within the present facility isn’t maintaining with policing wants, corresponding to investigating cybercrime.
— The division’s detention and processing facility doesn’t conform to state requirements.
The police division facility on the web site now was inbuilt 1986, making it almost 40 years previous.
In that point, town’s inhabitants elevated from almost 59,000 individuals to greater than 103,000 individuals, and the police division staff went from 145 to 331, in response to town.
“For various causes, it’s nearing its finish of life,” Zervis stated. “Our drive has grown fairly a bit within the final 39 years, and the wants of the police division have modified in that point as properly.”
A plan to assemble and relocate town’s police division has been mentioned for the previous a number of years.
These conversations have typically associated to the general authorities campus redevelopment plan, the destiny of which additionally can be on the March 10 poll. The redevelopment concern has been contentious, drawing opposition from many residents. Metropolis workers at the moment is getting ready a referendum query for the election concerning resident approval of the federal government campus challenge.
If it strikes ahead, the upgraded police station “actually hits on a portion of town’s imaginative and prescient about security and world-class group providers,” Zervis stated. “As we discuss how we guarantee group security within the metropolis of Boca Raton for the long run, that’s actually what this challenge is all about and to do this in a manner that’s fiscally sound.”
Police Chief Michele Miuccio stated through the assembly that relocating the station gained’t alter the agency presence of law enforcement officials throughout town, together with the downtown.
“What individuals have to know is our patrol officers are strategically positioned in zones all through the whole metropolis, they usually even have staggered begin and cease instances. So we at all times have law enforcement officials out on the street at any given second,” she stated. “This isn’t going to vary operationally. We proceed to do this. That’s the way in which you patrol.”
The council agreed to maneuver ahead with placing the referendum query on the poll.
“I believe the voters ought to strongly contemplate this. We’ve invested closely in public security. It’s about time that we introduced up the amenities we have to plan for right now and for our future. I believe this can be a very prudent plan,” Mayor Scott Singer stated.