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Select Board hears update on police station design and staffing study; committee proposes larger facility to meet workload
Summary
Advisory committee and police officials presented a design-development update and staffing study that recommends expanding near-term staffing (to about 87 officers) and designing a new, resilient police station sized for long‑term growth; the board discussed costs, timeline and communications to voters.
The Select Board received an update July 13 on the Town of Falmouth’s proposed new police station at 100 Brick Kiln Road. The Police Station Advisory Committee, police command and architects described progress through design development, a planned cost estimate schedule and a staffing analysis recommending an expansion of sworn and civilian positions over time.
Committee chair Boyd DeMaul said design development is underway, with a 100% design‑development cost estimate due by mid‑September and a 100% construction-document estimate targeted for late January 2027 to enable bidding in Feb–March 2027. The committee is planning community forums and coordination with concurrent site work (lift station and access roadway).
Captain Doug DeCosta summarized a 2025 staffing study that compared Falmouth to similar coastal communities and concluded the town is understaffed; it recommended raising authorized sworn strength from the current 68 toward a near‑term target of about 87 officers and adding professional (civilian) staff to support dispatch, records and investigative work. "We are severely understaffed," Chief Lohrey told the board, urging the board to build for future staffing rather than repeatedly add space in the short term.
Tekton Architects presented a program-based building size proposal reduced from earlier, larger concepts: approximately 43,744 square feet of mission‑critical, resilient facilities plus a separate smaller pre‑engineered ancillary building for evidence and vehicle wash (total ~48,244 sf). The design team explained tradeoffs between building now for projected future staffing versus deferring and paying higher future costs for additions. Architects estimated a current project ceiling around $70M (noting ongoing refinement and potential bid‑day savings), and highlighted options to reduce near‑term cost while deferring some programmatic growth at an estimated long‑term premium.
Board members asked for clearer comparisons, cost/benefit analysis of deferral versus building for the future, and stronger communications materials for town meeting and voters. The board asked staff and the project team to refine estimates and prepare voter-facing materials that outline alternatives, phasing, and operational impacts.
What’s next: The committee will refine cost estimates in the fall, pursue community outreach and present a warrant article/ballot plan to the board and town meeting in the 2027 cycle.
