Fort Myers Breaks Ground on $147.2 Million Police Headquarters

A new $147.2 million police headquarters facility in Fort Myers, Fla., will consolidate department operations and offer expanded training and technological capabilities. | Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wharton-Smith 

• A groundbreaking ceremony was held Sept. 22 for a Fort Myers Police Department headquarters, expected to be completed in summer 2028. 
• The $147.2 million project will consolidate police divisions and accommodate departmental growth through at least 2045. 
• Plans include forensic laboratories, a 911 communications center, a 20-lane firing range and community program space.
• Wharton-Smith is serving as construction manager, following designs from Parker Mudgett Smith Architects and Architects Design Group.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Officials in Fort Myers, Fla., gathered Sept. 22 for a groundbreaking ceremony for a $147.2 million police headquarters designed to consolidate operations and expand training and investigative resources. 

The headquarters will bring together divisions now operating from separate buildings, add a real-time crime center and accommodate growth through at least 2045. 

“We are creating a modern facility that meets our needs today, while preparing us for the growth and challenges of tomorrow,” Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields said at the groundbreaking, according to an article from The News-Press. 

Wharton-Smith Inc. is managing construction of the three-story, 176,000-square-foot headquarters. Parker Mudgett Smith Architects and Architects Design Group designed the facility. 

Police officials told Gulfshore Business that the department’s current headquarters are fragmented, with different divisions operating out of different locations. The News-Press also reported that officers currently travel elsewhere for testing, adding costs and creating inefficiencies. The department has 265 officers and approximately 100 civilian staff.  

“We’re all over the place and it’s just not efficient,” said Fort Myers Police Department Captain Roger Valdivia, according to an article from Gulfshore Business. 

According to Wharton-Smith’s project description, the new headquarters facility will include virtual and augmented reality labs, a 911 communications and dispatch center, and digital forensic laboratories. A 20-lane firing range will allow officers to complete firearms qualifications on site. A crime scene unit, property and evidence operations, drone deployment areas and a vehicle outfitting bay are also planned.

Additionally, Wharton-Smith identifies 10 K-9 kennels and specialized spaces for SWAT, bomb squad and gun intelligence personnel. Public training rooms will support community programs such as hurricane preparedness, while a press briefing room will accommodate media communications. 

The building will also provide space for juvenile intervention counselors, child services, chaplains and Group Violence Intervention staff, The News-Press reported. 

Wharton-Smith was awarded the project in July 2025 and worked with the city and design team through preconstruction and cost development. Subcontractor coordination helped identify value engineering opportunities while preserving the building’s required functions. The $109.1 million construction contract is part of the overall project budget, which also covers land acquisition and design.

Completion of the new facility is expected near the end of summer 2028. 

This article is based on reporting by Tayeba Hussein, published by The News-Press on Sept. 23, 2026, and Evan Williams, published by Gulfshore Business on Sept. 22, 2026. Additional project information comes from Wharton-Smith’s Aug. 25, 2026, project update.