A contract has been awarded for the construction of a new El Centro Police Headquarters.

The El Centro City Council unanimously approved a $39 million contract with Barnhart-Reese Construction for the long-awaited project. The project will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, November 13. The project will consist of the demolition of the existing police station building to allow construction of two buildings totaling 44,477 square feet. The main building will include a public lobby, a community meeting/multipurpose space, offices for administration, investigations, records, and patrol related functions. The two-story building will encompass 32,671 square feet and also include lockers, a fitness facility, and report writing areas. The second building will house property and evidence storage, K-9, a fingerprint lab and various support and storage functions. Construction is expected to start in late November and be completed by first quarter of 2026. Total cost is slightly below $50 million and is funded through Measure P funds and supplemented by Impact Fees and Asset Forfeiture Funds.