Irving police present 20‑year facilities plan calling for consolidated 248,000‑sq‑ft campus

The Irving Police Department on Thursday presented a facilities and staffing assessment that concludes the department needs a consolidated central campus — potentially about 248,000 square feet — to house jail/dispatch, investigations, training, property/evidence and other units now scattered across multiple sites.

Chief Derek Miller summarized an objective review led by Brinkley/Wiginton that inventoried the department’s facilities — the Criminal Justice Center (jail/dispatch), family advocacy center, emergency management office, autopound, training academy, animal services and several off‑site investigative locations — and concluded that the current footprint complicates operations, creates information silos and leaves some units cramped or insecure for evidence storage.

Miller said a consolidated campus would provide functional zones for public reporting, secure interview rooms, a larger training academy (including virtual‑reality and stress‑inoculation training), a modern real‑time crime center and a secure property and evidence facility. The facility analysis included a 5‑year staffing projection and a 20‑year planning horizon; staff estimated a 200–248k sqft campus would meet projected needs through the planning period and allow the city to retire or repurpose several scattered properties.

The chief said the department has made progress on staffing vacancies over the last two years and now reports far fewer open positions than previously. Councilmembers thanked the chief and asked for the study details and construction/phasing options; Miller said the presentation was intended to frame future budget and capital bond discussions rather than to request immediate funding.

No procurement or funding decision was made Wednesday; the study will inform future capital planning and potential bond or budget proposals.