Milford Police Chief: Cost Of New Building 'Shocking'

MILFORD, CT ? The approximate cost of a new building for the Milford Police Department would be $81 million. Police Chief Keith Mello called the number "shocking," according to meeting minutes from the Nov. 14 Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

"We missed our opportunity to build and now everything costs more," the meeting minutes read. "We are now trying to tear down some walls in the existing building to create spaces, windows, etc."

City officials have been planning a new police station for decades, but it appears the new building won't be coming anytime soon.

Mello later revised the estimated cost from $81 million down to $77.5 million, The Connecticut Post reported. The estimate comes from a contractor the city selected in 2018 to provide the original development estimate.

In 2018, the project had a much lower cost, coming in at around $45 million, according to The Connecticut Post. The current station at 430 Boston Post Road was built in 1978 and is considered too small and obsolete.

One good piece of news: the Milford Police Department recently made three new hires. After facing continuous staff shortage issues, it's expected that the department will be at full staff next year, according to Police Commission meeting minutes.

See related: Milford Police Vacancies Continue To Climb