Georgetown officials broke ground Friday on a new police and public works facility
GEORGETOWN, Del. — Georgetown officials broke ground Friday on a new police and public works facility, launching a major project town leaders say will modernize operations and support the community for decades.
The complex, located on University Drive, will replace the town’s aging police department — built in 1991 — and the public works building that has been in use since 1977. The project follows a 2024 voter-approved referendum allowing the town to consolidate key services at the same site.
Mayor Bill West said the investment is part of a broader effort to improve Georgetown’s public infrastructure and better support employees.
“We’re changing the appearance of Georgetown with a new family court, some of the medical facilities, and it was time to upgrade our two main facilities to help the employees of Georgetown,” West said during the ceremony.
Police Chief Ralph Holm said the new building will address longstanding safety and operational concerns inside the department’s current headquarters. He noted that the detention area in the existing facility offers little more than “chicken wire” barriers, something he says will be corrected with proper holding cells in the new design.
The department is also expected to benefit from improved evidence processing areas, upgraded ventilation systems and a public community room — features Holm said will help meet accreditation standards and strengthen engagement with residents.
“We’ll be using that for community groups to come in and have their meetings… so that’s going to be a great thing to draw in the community and have a little more positive engagement,” Holm said.
West said he believes improving town facilities sets a standard for the rest of the community.
“I was always under the impression that cleaning our stuff up — meaning the town buildings and offices — then the rest of the town will clean up also,” he said.
Town officials said construction updates will be released as the project progresses.
