New & Updated Public Safety Facilities

by Chief of Police | Monday, November 20, 2023 | Headline, Public Safety

The City is researching the construction of a new Aransas Pass Fire station and an overhaul remodel of the Police Department. The goal is to accommodate City growth, improve health for first responders, and adapt to the increase in staff and necessary public safety services provided.

Police Department Today

The existing building was constructed in 1993. Services have outgrown facilities.
PD has grown into areas initially designated to the court.
PD has no overflow storage; necessary gear and equipment are stored where available.
Police training has limited space due to no suitable training facility, and outsourcing a venue is costly on the training budget.
The public safety communications space is severely overcrowded, as you see.
There are no proper temporary/makeshift living quarters for times when staff cannot leave work (i.e. Hurricane Harvey).

Police Department After Remodel

It will provide for the current needs and limited growth by expanding into the existing fire station quarters.
It adds a training room, exercise area, proper locker/restroom accommodations, and a secure bay for large pieces of evidence.
It adds a proper storage area for necessary police equipment.
Investigators will have independent office space, allowing for more expeditious and proper witness/suspect interviews.
It will make for more sanitary and roomy public safety quarters for telecommunicators confined to their desk for 8-12 hours at a time.
It will add a secure area where inmates/arrestees come in and go out without heightened risk of escape/resistance.

Fire Department Today

The existing building was constructed in 1993. Services have outgrown facilities.
It was built to accommodate up to 2 paid staffers.
The current bunk room, housing at least four at a time, is less than the size of a typical jail cell.
It lacks proper equipment/storage space.
Cancer, a leading cause of health concern for those in the fire service, was not considered when the facility was built. (Studies show proper facility design lessens cancer risk.)
There is no room for growth, though growth continues and remains necessary.

Fire Department After Construction

It will provide proper living quarters for both male and female staff (remember, firefighters live on location for 24-48 hours at a time).
It will be built for growth.
It will be built with health in mind and cancer-reducing measures in place.
It provides for a training space.
It provides for more suitable exercise accommodations.