Authorities give green light to construct a new police headquarter in Fresno city
Fresno Moves Forward with New Police Headquarters
The City of Fresno is set to invest approximately $42 million in a new police headquarters, which includes renovations and a 21-year rent-to-own lease. The new building, located at 2314 Mariposa Street, will replace the current headquarters built in 1959.
The new headquarters will span 65,000 square feet across three floors and a basement, with several key improvements. These include a new HVAC system, electrical upgrades, specialty build-outs for police needs such as holding cells, and enhanced facilities to provide privacy for sensitive situations.
The current headquarters, which has been plagued with issues like asbestos contamination, poor ventilation, and failing electrical systems, will be demolished after the move due to the costly cleanup and repairs required for hazardous materials.
The consolidation of up to 100 more employees into the new headquarters is part of the proposal, aiming to improve operational capacity and space efficiency. One of the concerns raised by an officer was the lack of privacy for delivering bad news to victims' families in the current headquarters. This issue will be addressed in the new building.
The funding for this project comes from a $56 million municipal bond approved in August 2025, which also covers other public safety projects such as a new fire station and dispatch center. The $12 million renovation cost is part of this bond.
Council Vice President Miguel Arias expressed concern about the cost and timing of the new police headquarters, given the recent groundbreaking of a new dispatch center. However, the project received support from other councilmembers, including Vice President Arias who eventually voted to approve the new police headquarters.
The new Fresno police headquarters is expected to open in late summer or early fall 2026. Chief Mindy Casto emphasized the need to address potential issues in the current headquarters before they become major problems in the future. She also confirmed that some employees based at other locations could move downtown to the new police headquarters.
[1] City officials state that the current headquarters is aging and has limited space to serve the community. [2] Chief Casto stated that the consolidation of approximately 100 more people into the headquarters is part of the proposal. [3] The city will lease the new building for 21 years, spending nearly $30 million before buying it for a dollar. [4] Another officer raised concerns about asbestos in the current headquarters, stating that they wipe down their desks daily and find black dust. [5] Vice President Arias expressed concern about the presence of asbestos in the current headquarters, but acknowledged that it may not pose an immediate danger.
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
