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After years of planning and design, construction has officially begun on Mount Vernon’s new police station.
City officials, members of the Mount Vernon Police Department, City Council and project partners gathered Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new facility, which city leaders say represents one of the largest public safety investments in Mount Vernon’s history.
Mayor Matt Starr called the project the beginning of a new chapter for the city, noting that officials have discussed replacing the department’s aging headquarters for decades.
“It was time that we said, okay, it’s not going to get any cheaper in the future, and so we need to bite the bullet and make this happen,” Starr said, adding that the investment is intended to benefit the community for generations.
Police Chief Robert Morgan, who has served with the department for 27 years, said the project has been a longtime goal.
“When we set out to build this, we said, let’s not just build a police department for what we need right now, let’s build a police department that’s going to serve generations from now on,” Morgan said. “Long after I’m gone… this building will still be serving the community.”
Morgan said the new station was designed not only to meet the department’s current needs but also to accommodate future growth.
The facility will feature expanded workspaces for officers and investigators, upgraded technology, secure evidence storage, community engagement offices and significant improvements to officer training. Among the additions are dedicated classroom space, defensive tactics training areas and an indoor firearms training range that will allow officers to conduct more realistic, scenario-based training year-round.
“Police work is nonstop training,” Morgan said. “There’s always something new coming out. There’s always a better way we can do something.”
The chief also emphasized the importance of strengthening relationships with residents, noting that the new building includes office space specifically designed for the department’s community engagement efforts.
“It says on our patch we protect and serve, but serving is what we do,” Morgan said. “We serve our community. That’s our job.”
Architects from BKV Group said the station was designed to improve officer safety, enhance security, modernize technology and provide flexible space that can adapt as the department’s needs evolve. Project representatives from Pizzuti Solutions and CK Construction also spoke during the ceremony, describing the project as an investment in both public safety and the future of Mount Vernon.
Following remarks from city officials and project partners, attendees participated in the ceremonial turning of dirt, officially marking the beginning of construction.
Once complete, the new police station is expected to provide Mount Vernon officers with a modern facility better equipped to support law enforcement operations while improving services for residents throughout the community.
