Submitted by City of Westfield
The Westfield Police Department officially broke ground Wednesday, Nov. 12 on its new $35 million headquarters, which will be constructed on an 11.7-acre site on Grand Park Boulevard, just north of 181st Street.
The project addresses the department’s need for space as Westfield’s population continues to grow.
The new police station will replace the outdated Westfield Public Safety building located at State Road 32 and Dartown Road, which no longer meets post-September 11 operational requirements. Estimates to renovate the existing building to meet current police requirements would have amounted to $30 million while still falling short of the department’s needs, prompting city leadership to build a new facility.
Keen
“Keeping our community secure is of the utmost importance to myself and my entire department,” Westfield Police Chief Shawn Keen said. “We’re grateful for the administration’s support and commitment to keeping our residents and visitors safe.”
Mayor Scott Willis echoed Chief Keen’s remarks.
Willis
“One of the four pillars of my administration is excellence in public safety,” Willis said. “Our Police Department is doing exemplary work and they’re bursting at the seams in their current building. This project is an investment in our police force and in Westfield’s continued growth and desirability.”
The new station’s location was strategically chosen to support quick response times to Grand Park, Westfield High School, and heavily trafficked commercial areas nearby, while also enhancing police visibility within the community.
“We’re proud to partner with Westfield Police Department to build their new headquarters,” Skender Senior Vice President Brian Simons said. “This project is about serving the people of Westfield, and we’re grateful and humbled to be a small part of the team that makes it a reality.”
In addition to making space for Westfield’s current and incoming officers, the city’s Informatics Department will also be housed in the building. The plan also includes an optional 30,000 square-foot addition which can be added in the next 15 to 20 years, ensuring the department can keep pace with Westfield’s rapid growth without requiring another full facility build.
The new police headquarters is anticipated to be completed in 2027. For more information about the Westfield Police Department, visit westfieldin.gov/police.
