Press Release

Taunton – On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Mayor Shaunna O’Connell was joined by Taunton Police and Fire, elected officials and City of Taunton employees to break ground on the city’s new public safety facility which is on track to come in millions of dollars under budget.

"After decades of discussions and attempts, we are here to break ground on this new public safety facility that will help keep Taunton safe for decades to come. Building this modern public safety facility is an important milestone for Taunton’s future,” said O’Connell. “It also shows our commitment to our city’s first responders who are critical to Taunton’s wellbeing.”

The Taunton Police Department has been operating in temporary facilities for over 40 years. The city has not built a police station in over 110 years. When O’Connell ran for Mayor, she promised to improve public safety and build a public safety facility which has been needed for decades. Last year, the City Council approved O’Connell’s plans and the people of Taunton passed a ballot question in support.

"For far too long, our police department has been operating in temporary and substandard facilities. We’re grateful to Mayor O’Connell, the City Council and the people of Taunton for making this project a priority. Let’s get these shovels in the ground," said Police Chief Edward Walsh.

In 2023 the City of Taunton made considerable progress in preparation for the construction of the new public safety facility. Demolition of the former Villa Fatima building was completed in November 2023 and a general contractor was awarded the project in April 2024. Most recently, the project bids have come in $8 to $10 million below projections which will save significant tax dollars.

The new public safety facility will house the Taunton Police Department, Taunton Fire Department headquarters, 911 Emergency Communications Center, a fire training building and other essential services, streamlining operations and fostering collaboration among first responders. Fire Chief Steve Lavigne expressed his department’s appreciation for the training facility. “We are not currently able to do burn training in the city without an appropriate training

For Immediate Release: 05/06/2024 Contact Person: Ligia Madeira, 508-821-1000

facility. The new public safety facility will not only allow us to do our own burn training, but we’ll also have classrooms for other types of training as well.”

Former Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw was on hand for the groundbreaking and expressed his gratitude to be able to witness the next phase of the project. “Central Fire Station is over 150 years old. It was built for horses. We need a modern facility. The Mayor and her administration made this happen and it’s great to be here to see this project take off. I’m looking forward to coming back for the ribbon cutting,” said Bradshaw.

Construction on the new public safety facility is underway and expected to be completed in approximately 20 months. The public is advised that 90 County Street is now an active construction zone and public access is restricted. For more information and updates on construction progress, please visit taunton-ma.gov ###