Medford announces plans for new police station

MEDFORD, Mass. — The Medford Mayor announced plans Wednesday to upgrade the moldy and rundown Medford Police Station.

FOX25 first uncovered concerns about the aging Medford Police Station earlier this year. The building is moldy and has missing ceiling tiles, there are dilapidated holding cells used for storage, broken windows propped open with a can of raid and paper towels.

"The officers looked at it like no one really cared…it was the broken windows theory,” said Chief Leo Sacco.

The city announced it will construct a brand new station right next door to the current one. Mayor Stephanie Burke said the city spent months surveying properties and landed on land the city already owns, the current training academy.

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It will be torn down later this year to make way for a new beginning.

“It will be expected to be completed in 2019…about six to eight months of architect planning…and then construction for about 18 months," said Burke.

Burke said it’s an ideal location for the city and it's equal distance to all parts.

The price tag is an estimated $22 million and Burke says the city will pay for it through loan orders and other money.

"That we can absorb through our loan orders …we have several of them coming off the books. We also anticipate using our free cash to fund some of the amortization in the earlier years," she said.

Chief Leo Sacco said officers and residents will be involved in the planning for the new facility that's long overdue. The current one was built in 1962 and the one before that 1895.

“The men and women of this department deserve it,” said Sacco.

The first part of the funding will be $2 million for the architect to begin planning. The mayor’s plan is to present that piece of it to the Medford City Council on Tuesday.

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