MELBOURNE, Fla. – The city of Melbourne broke ground on a new police headquarters during a ceremony Wednesday morning.
The $32 million Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center will be located along NASA Boulevard between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Babcock Street.
The new 76,390 square foot, two-story headquarters will allow all divisions to be housed under one roof.
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Mayor Paul Alfrey worked at the current police offices on Apollo Boulevard when he was an officer.
Police also have a station two miles away on Babcock Street.
The city said the new building, approved by voters in 2018, will improve responding to emergencies.
“I want to thank our residents who I believe, and was confirmed, support our law enforcement, our public safety professionals,” the mayor said.
Chief David Gillespie said the old buildings are deteriorating and it would have cost millions to renovate them.
‘’We’ve had mold. We’ve had people who are ill. We’ve had all kinds of different issues,” the chief said.
Gillespie said the new building will be larger than the other two buildings combined.
It will be named after Melbourne’s only officer killed in the line of duty, Joseph Pellicano, who in 1986 police said was hit by a pickup truck while directing traffic.
His widow, Marion, proudly attended Wednesday’s ceremony in honor of her husband.
“He’s here and I’m sure he is absolutely thrilled,” Pellicano Ambrose said. “Joe loved everything about being a police officer. He loved the pomp and circumstance.”
The city expects the new building to open in the summer of 2024.
SOUND UP: Brevard Sheriff’s Office helicopter flies over groundbreaking of new @MelbournePolice headquarters as police chief, city leaders and construction team members ceremoniously turn the dirt. @news6wkmg pic.twitter.com/qFj9ZkIDnp
— James Sparvero (@JamesSparvero) September 14, 2022
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