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Middletown police propose converting former fire station on Dixie Highway into an East‑end substation
Summary
Police presented plans to repurpose an existing fire station as a substation to shorten response times on the city’s east side, provide locker and break space for officers, and free storage at headquarters; council discussed funding sources and the possibility of adding a holding cell.
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Middletown police briefed City Council on plans to convert an existing, city‑owned former fire station on Dixie Highway into a police substation to improve east‑side response times and add workspace, storage and break areas for officers.
Why it matters: City leaders said the substation would reduce travel time to incidents on the east side, provide secure storage and workspaces that free capacity at headquarters, and offer officers a place to change, eat and do paperwork without returning downtown.
What the department proposed: Lieutenant Porter summarized needs observed during a walk‑through of the building, including locker rooms, a small squad/roll‑call room, a kitchen and workstations. Porter said the garage can accommodate the department’s MRAP vehicle and extra cruisers, and the room layout can support two to three workstations and a modest locker area.
Porter said the substation would not include a holding cell at this time, although council members urged staff to evaluate whether a holding configuration could be added later. Porter and Chief Nelson noted the substation would primarily support nonviolent processing tasks, paperwork and on‑duty breaks; violent arrestees would continue to be processed at headquarters.
Funding and timing: Council members asked whether the city could move quickly on upgrades and suggested a supplemental appropriation. City Manager Ashley Combs and staff said they will present midyear budget options and that airport/building or property funds could be used to start the work while city staff develop a longer term funding plan.
Council comments and next steps: Council Member Horn recommended increasing the line item to $150,000–$175,000 as a contingency to expedite work. Several council members noted the advantage of using an owned building and encouraged a phased approach to equip and staff the substation. City staff said the work could proceed in stages to align with staffing increases on the east side and with supply lead times.
Ending: Chiefs said the substation would be phased in as part of the department’s east‑side coverage plan; staff will return to council with a funding recommendation in the midyear supplemental appropriation process.
