By Bailey Coyle, Fox23 News
COWETA, Okla. — After decades of operating out of cramped quarters, the City of Coweta is moving forward with a new, modern police facility designed to support future growth, improve officer safety and expand services for the community.
Coweta City Manager Julie Casteen said the current police station has been in use for decades and no longer meets the needs of the department or the city.
“We’ve got 20 officers, dispatch, animal control, code enforcement, all in a space that’s probably smaller than most people’s homes,” said Casteen.
According to Casteen, the department has needed a new facility for decades, and the opportunity finally became possible thanks to funding from a voter-approved one-cent sales tax.
The new site is located in north Coweta near Walmart, behind the Fish Shack, on property donated by the area’s developer specifically for public safety use.
“We are just so excited we have this opportunity,” said Casteen. “It’s going to be modern. Everyone is going to have the space they need, secure areas, it’s a dream come true for our employees.”
The new police facility will include built-in room for growth, with vacant office space reserved for future officers and staff as Coweta continues to expand.
“As the city continues to grow, and it will, we will be prepared for that,” said Casteen.
Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell echoed that excitement, noting that the department has been operating out of the same building since 1938.
“There are services we can no longer provide because of size,” said Bell. “This building is about 2,500 square feet. The new building will be around 12,000 square feet total.”
Bell said the city’s rapid growth, along with new businesses and housing developments, makes the timing critical.
“The city is getting ready to explode,” he said. “We want to be able to offer all the services that are expected of a larger department, and this facility will allow us to do that.”
The new building will also serve as a city presence in north Coweta, where there are currently no city facilities.
“This will give citizens somewhere they can go to talk to city employees and find out what they need to know,” said Bell. “It also allows us to become part of the community up north.”
With future plans for a turnpike interchange and continued annexation of housing subdivisions, Bell said relocating now allows the department to stay ahead of population growth.
Inside the new facility, officers will have proper storage areas, a legal property room that meets state requirements, updated holding cells and significantly improved dispatch operations. Dispatch staff will move from a 120-square-foot room into a 275-square-foot space with new technology, upgraded desks and backup power systems.
The building will also feature modern security cameras, sound systems, electronic message displays for officer alerts and energy-efficient lighting expected to save the city thousands of dollars annually.
For the first time, officers will also have access to an on-site gym. Equipment for the gym was donated by Planet Fitness, a contribution Bell said reflects strong public support for the project.
Morale within the department, which had dipped during the lengthy planning process, is now rising as construction begins.
“They see the bulldozers, they see the dirt being moved,” said Bell. “They’re excited. They know they’re going to have offices they can work in and a facility that finally fits what we do.”
Beyond space and technology, Bell said the location itself will improve safety and response times. Moving emergency services out of downtown reduces traffic risks, particularly near schools, and provides quicker access to major highways, including Highway 51 and the future casino development.
For both city leadership and the police department, the new facility represents more than a building, it’s an investment in preparedness, officer wellbeing and the future of Coweta.
“It may not directly impact the public every day, but when our employees are safer, better equipped and happier, that’s a win for everyone,” said Casteen.
