Designs Considered for Possible New Bourne Police Station

BOURNE – Several working plans for a possible new police station in Bourne are under consideration by the police department and selectmen.

However, selectmen did approve a location for the station, if the funds to build one are approved by voters in the fall.

The building would be located on the bypass road in Buzzards Bay, not far from the former National Guard Armory.

The lowest estimated budget is $14.5 million, and go up to $17.1 million.

Police Chief Dennis Woodside said these costs are not lost on the department: they understand, he said, that in the midst of other capital projects like the new James F. Peebles Elementary School, taxpayers may be hesitant to adopt more costs.

“We’re trying to reduce costs as much as possible,” Woodside said, “But this is the only building open 24 hours a day, we handle all emergency calls, and so this isn’t for me, it’s for the town of Bourne.”

He said the new station has been in the works for a few years, but the DPW’s expanded landfill project took precedence.

Woodside listed faults with the building like it being in a flood zone has brought about trouble in the past for the department, like when their basement flooded. He also said the current station is riddled with cracks on the exterior brick and leaks in the roof.

The location of the new building will also be a boon to police operations, he said. The location relative to big traffic areas would allow officers a speedier arrival to scenes on the “Cape side” of the bridge.

The Bourne Police Facility Building Committee has launched a new web site detailing the current plans. That can be visited at www.newbournepolicestation.org.

Currently, the new station would feature two stories, a basement and training room, dispatch center, evidence processing and storage areas, as well as a detention area, administrative offices and firing range.

The project was recently given the ok by selectmen to have the project on the October special town meeting warrant. If passed there, it will need approval in a town vote in December.