Fort Lauderdale police headquarters opens after years of delays

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Fort Lauderdale’s new police headquarters is finished and operational after years of delays.

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Voters approved a $100 million bond for the project in 2019. The new three-story, 191,000-square-foot headquarters on Broward Boulevard replaces an 80-year-old building and is now home to a department of more than 700 personnel.

“This is one of the most significant investments Fort Lauderdale has ever made in public safety,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said during a morning tour of the new facility.

The headquarters features updated technology, expanded operational space and dedicated areas for training, public meetings and community engagement. It also includes a gun range.

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Getting the project to the finish line wasn’t easy. Engineers had to address design flaws that caused the original construction to crack and bend. Repairs and reinforcement eventually allowed the project to move forward.

“Getting us to this day took persistence,” Trantalis said.

Police Chief Bill Schultz said the new headquarters represents more than just a building.

“This is more than just a structure,” Schultz said. “This is a symbol of what happens when a community believes in its police department and when a department never stops believing in its mission.”

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The new facility can withstand a Category 5 hurricane.