Houston Mayor John Whitmire inaugurated HPD’s new central patrol station in a renovated 100-year-old building downtown.
HOUSTON — Houston Mayor John Whitmire cut the ribbon Monday for the grand opening of the Houston Police Department’s new central patrol station downtown, marking a significant milestone for the department as it moves into a renovated building that’s over 100 years old.
The new facility, housed in what was once a warehouse and HPD property room, has been completely renovated to provide 57,000 square feet of workspace for officers. The station will also house the department’s special operations division.
“We got almost 600 parking spaces, which we need so that the police and public works employees, try to make their jobs as comfortable as possible, because we can’t make it without our city employees,” Whitmire said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The project represents a collaboration between HPD and the city’s public works department, as both agencies will share the parking garage. The facility includes amenities for officers such as a gym where they can work out.
Police Chief Noe Diaz praised the new facility and expressed hopes that similar upgrades will continue across the department. According to Diaz, many of HPD’s stations are “long in the tooth,” suggesting the need for additional renovations and improvements throughout the department.
The opening of the central patrol station represents a major investment in the Houston Police Department’s infrastructure and working conditions for officers serving the downtown area.
The building is on Morin Place, north of Washington Avenue and east of Houston Avenue.