Video: Work On New Police Headquarters In Final Stages

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – After sixteen months, construction on the new Tupelo Police Department headquarters is in its final stages.

When complete, most of the department’s employees and divisions will be in one building for the first time in decades.

“With that we will be able to interact more closely and won’t have to be traveling from place to place in order to communicate with one another,” said Police Chief Bart Aguirre .

He says the 36,000 square foot facility has many highlights; such as an armory, where weapons and ammunition will be stored. One room will be outfitted with gym equipment, a large breakroom is upstairs, along with a state of the art crime lab and evidence storage room.
Closed circuit cameras are throughout the building.
There is a community room that can also serve as a command center during a crisis situation.

“This is something we’ve been planning for for a long time,” Chief Aguirre said.

In fact, plans for a new facility go back several administrations.  City leaders issued bonds for a new police headquarters, but never took action.

Instead, city leaders waited years for a federal investigation into a contraband cigarette operation to end.  The Tupelo Police Department’s assistance with the FBI and other agencies resulted in the city acquiring $1.5 million and a four acre plot of land, a perfect stop for the new police headquarters.

“I was working with the FBI Task Force on this investigation. From the undercover investigation to the asset forfeiture part, to prosecution part of it, to the seizure of the property as well so getting to see it all the way through has meant more to me than it would to anybody else,” Chief Aguirre said.

Aguirre believes the public and officers will be proud of the new space.

“I’m excited, I know men and women of Tupelo Police Department are going to be excited, we have talked about it so much that the folks on patrol were kind of questioning whether or not this thing was really going to happen,” Aguirre said.

The new headquarters is expected to have a lifespan of at least 50 years.

Construction could be finished by the end of August.
Then furniture will be moved in.
Ribbon cutting ceremonies could take place mid September or early October.