Fort Myers weighs $109M price tag for new police headquarters

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—The Fort Myers City Council is deciding whether to approve $109 million for construction of a new police headquarters.

The current headquarters dates back to the early 1980s. A 2024 audit stated that there were more than 66,000 pieces of property and evidence stored there.

WINK News toured the building in 2021, and then-Chief Derrick Diggs considered it overcrowded. That same year, city leaders told WINK News anchor Chris Cifatte there wouldn't be much, if any, tolerance to go above $36 million for renovating the News Press location.

Five years later, the cost has ballooned to $144 million for a brand new headquarters that would house the entire department, including training facilities, under one roof. The $109 million on the line is specifically for construction.

One man from Punta Gorda said the price tag is worth it.

"When it comes to the police force or law enforcement centralization, I view it as a very good thing," John Bedwell said.

"I personally would view that price tag as very valuable in the regard that technology is not cheap, and with the way things are these days, technology is the way to go," Bedwell said.

The city council was set to make a decision on the construction funding. WINK News will continue to follow this story as it develops.