Mayor Kevin Anderson and Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields stand alongside other members of the city government and police department at the groundbreaking ceremony for the FMPD’s new headquarters on Tues., Sept. 22.
Tayeba Hussein
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
The Fort Myers Police Department hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 22 at the site of its upcoming three-story, 176,000-square-foot headquarters, which will be located at 2150 Fowler Street.
The new FMPD HQ, which will sit on approximately eight-and-a-half acres of land, has been designed to include several amenities and state-of-the-art technologies that will allow the police department to more efficiently and effectively solve crime, Roger Valdivia, police captain and project liaison for the facility, said in a post-ceremony interview.
“This new police headquarters represents a long-term vision for our department and the community we humbly serve. We are creating a modern facility that meets our needs today, while preparing us for the growth and challenges of tomorrow,” Fort Myers Police Chief Fields said at the ceremony.
“This project is not only an investment in our police department; it is an investment in our entire community,” Anderson said at the ceremony. “This facility will provide our officers and professional staff with modern tools, technology and a working environment they need to serve our growing city effectively.”
Several elected city officials made an appearance at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new headquarters, including the mayor, Kevin Anderson, who was publicly accused of sexual misconduct less than 24 hours before the event.
Police chief Jason Fields thanked the mayor and city council for its support in the headquarters facility project, stating that “without their support, today would not be possible.”
Fields also called on Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno to speak at the Tuesday morning ceremony.
“The elected officials that stand during tough times and support projects like this…thank you from the heart,” Marceno said.
“I know what it’s like to be attacked and stand strong,” the sheriff added.
Embattled Fort Myers mayor calls allegations against him ‘false’
Mayor Anderson, who the night before Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony (Sept. 21) was at a city council meeting where two young men – 18-year-old Florida Gulf Coast University student Dominic Hendricks and 23-year-old Kagan Vann – addressed the council during public comment, detailing allegations that Anderson solicited them for sex in downtown Fort Myers.
Anderson said that “these allegations being made are completely false” at the end of the meeting.
When inquired about the allegations at the groundbreaking ceremony, Anderson told media: “As I said last night, the allegations are false.”
Anderson briskly walked away from further-inquiring reporters.
Members of the Fort Myers Police Department emphasized multiple times that officials would not be speaking on any matters beside those regarding the new headquarters facility.
What is special about the FMPD’s new headquarters facility?
One of the amenities that Valdivia emphasized for the new headquarters is a 20-lane run range where officers will be able to take their firearm qualification exams.
Currently, officers have to travel to take their qualifying exams, which has been costly and inefficient for the department, Valdivia said.
All of the departments will be housed in the one building, which includes the homicide unit, general crimes unit and cold case unit, amongst others. The FMPD currently has 265 officers and approximately 100 civilian staff.
Additional amenities will include:
Administrative officesInvestigative officesA comprehensive crime scene unitDigital forensic laboratoriesProperty and evidence operationsK-9 facilities made up of 10 kennelsSWAT resourcesA modern 911 communications and dispatch centerVirtual and augmented reality labs for trainingDrone and UAV deployment areas for real-time geographic information gstheringA vehicle outfitting baySpecialized spaces for the bomb squad, gun intelligence, covert operations, polygraph technicians, fingerprint technicians and evidence teamsSpace for juvenile intervention counselors, child services, chaplains and group violence intervention staffPublic training room for community-based programming, such as hurricane preparednessA press briefing room
“We know that building a facility this size, complexity and importance comes with tremendous responsibility…This is much more than bricks, concrete, steel and walls,” Valdivia said during the ceremony.
There is a 21-month build schedule for the facility. The police department hopes that it is ready for officers to begin moving in by June or July 2028.
New facility may result in property tax increase for SW FL residents
Building the new Fort Myers Police headquarters will cost the city just over $147 million.
Some of that money has already been spent. The city will borrow money to pay for $125.9 million of the cost.
That will cost taxpayers $7.82 million a year.
The owner of a home valued for tax purposes at $200,000 would pay an extra $130.30 a year. However, this is just for the new police HQ.
There are other ongoing projects in the city that also have to be paid for. Those projects will mean borrowing another $45 million in the next six months. That will drive the debt service payment to $11.3 million, which would cost that same homeowner nearly $190 annually.
Nonetheless, council members voted unanimously to move ahead with the contract to build the police HQ.
Tayeba Hussein is a breaking news reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her at thussein@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers breaks ground on new $147M headquarters
Reporting by Tayeba Hussein, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published September 23, 2026 at 11:23 AM.