Fort Myers police are planning a new headquarters to consolidate their operations and improve crime-solving efficiency, with the facility expected to open in 2027.
Currently, officers are spread out across several substations in the city, but the new facility will bring the entire department under one roof at Fowler and Market Street.
Capt. Roger Valdivia, who has served as an FMPD officer for 33 years, said, "This is a one-stop shop, and that's just for investigation. So what does that mean to the community? That means hopefully quicker solving of crimes."
The new headquarters will feature an intelligence center, a gun range, and glass-front training rooms.
"That's to show the community that we're very transparent in everything that we do. So you could see right through this glass, you could see the training that's taking place," Valdiva said.
Fort Myers City Council recently voted to allow ICE to train with FMPD , a decision police Chief Jason Fields believes will enhance officer training and city safety.
"All those agreements only enhance our response to fighting crime," Fields said.
Fields assured that training with ICE will not divert resources from the city streets.
"No, we're not going to be taking away resources from the city at all. It's only going to harness the resources that we already have, so it's going to be more on the administrative side. Should we come across somebody that's an illegal alien — undocumented — call what you want, we now have the availability or the option to process them accordingly," he said.
The city of Fort Myers could see the new headquarters open in 2027, marking a significant step in the department's growth alongside the city's development.
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