Скачать или смотреть City of North Port considering new state-of-the-art police headquarters

City of North Port Leaders are considering options for a new Police department headquarters and how they are going to pay for it.

The current building is nearly 20 years old and has taken a beating from hurricanes and Police officers and staff are forced to work in very cramped spaces.

In 2006 when North Port opened a combined $15 million City hall and Police department package deal, the population was just under 50,000 with just around 70 officers and 30 staff. Now those numbers have unexpectedly doubled and the police department building no longer has enough space for the current staff.

"This was a closet here that was turned into an office. This is one of our commander's offices. This was a closet we had to make do," said Deputy Chief Christopher Morales as he showed the interior of the facility to 10 Tampa Bay.

A 24-year North Port Police Department veteran, Morales has seen the City grow in leaps and bounds.

He has also seen the offices inside the 30,000 sq. ft. police department grow as well, expanding into other parts of the building like the conference rooms.