Bridgeport to put $2.5M toward replacing police headquarters
BRIDGEPORT — From relying on more technology like uniform cameras and gunshot tracking equipment, to a sweeping overhaul of internal policies, the city’s police force has slowly entered the 21st Century.
But the building at 300 Congress St. that the men and women responsible for keeping Connecticut’s largest municipality safe call home was last considered cutting edge nearly 60 years ago.
While a new headquarters will not be opening in the near future, the City Council recently signaled it is time to get serious about building one. When that legislative body earlier this week approved a new, 5-year capital budget setting aside funds for large infrastructure projects, $2.5 million was set aside in the 2024 fiscal year which starts July 2023 for a new police department building.
“We’ve been talking about a new police station for years and no one’s moved on it,” said Councilman Matthew McCarthy, who had advocated for the dollars. “This at least says, ‘We’re serious.’”
But $2.5 million is hardly enough. For example, in 2018 police officers in the much smaller town of Bethel moved into their new building, which at that time cost around $14.5 million.
Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia in a statement said “we are thankful” for the financial commitment from the council and the $2.5 million will be used to “conduct a comprehensive assessment and (draft) conceptual plans.”
“Our police department headquarters was built in 1966 (and) operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The need for an adequate building with appropriate resources is a priority,” Garcia said.
Asked for examples of needed upgrades, Garcia offered a lengthy list that included a community conference room, updated interview rooms, a technology area, locker rooms, a training area, a grieving room for officers and the community, an “intel” room, an updated booking facility and storage.
“Having the opportunity for this new building would be a morale booster for all of the officers,” she added.
The police union did not respond this week to multiple requests for comment.
McCarthy also hoped that by signaling a new building is coming, Bridgeport will attract even more applicants as it pursues a nationwide search for a permanent top cop.
Although some might not see the project as a priority given the cashstrapped city’s many challenges, others view a modern policing facility as crucial to ongoing efforts to reform and revitalize the force.
“There’s no doubt we need a new police department,” Councilman Ernie Newton, a budget committee co-chairman, said. “Bridgeport police department is old as anything.”
Tyler Mack is a freshman council member and also sits on the legislative body’s budget committee.
“There’s been talk about actually having a new police headquarters for some time but no actual moves being made toward that,” he said.
Mack added that, financially, it would be better for Bridgeport to invest in something new than continue to patch up the outdated facility.
“We don’t want the police department to keep coming to us asking for funds when, at the end of the day, we should just have a new headquarters,” he said. “That will alleviate all the extra costs.”