MARIANNA, Fla.—Jackson County officials, joined by project leaders from Culpepper Construction and Clemons, Rutherford & Associates (CRA), have broken ground on a new Public Safety Complex, marking one of the county’s most significant public‑safety investments since Hurricane Michael devastated the region in 2018. The state‑of‑the‑art campus will house the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, a modern Communications and Dispatch Center, Maintenance and Forensic Evidence facilities, K‑9 operations, and a new communications tower designed to strengthen emergency response across the county.
The project is being delivered by Culpepper Construction Company, Inc., a Tallahassee‑based firm with a long record of public‑sector work across the Florida Panhandle. The architectural design is led by Clemons, Rutherford & Associates (CRA), with Senior Project Manager and Architect Will Rutherford overseeing the planning and design of the multi‑building complex.
County leaders describe the project as both a long‑awaited replacement for aging and storm‑damaged facilities and a forward‑looking investment in operational resilience. Sheriff Donnie Edenfield called the groundbreaking “a milestone for public safety and a commitment to the professionalism and integrity our community deserves.” The Sheriff’s Office has operated for years out of temporary and fragmented spaces after Hurricane Michael destroyed key infrastructure.
The new complex will feature a 21,000‑square‑foot headquarters, providing administrative offices, interview rooms, training areas, and a fitness space for deputies. A separate 6,200‑square‑foot maintenance and evidence building will include long‑term, climate‑controlled storage—critical for cases requiring evidence preservation for decades. The 1,200‑square‑foot K‑9 facility will support training, kenneling, and operational readiness for the county’s canine units.
One of the most technically advanced components is the Communications and Dispatch Center, designed to meet NFPA 1221 standards for emergency communications. The center will include hardened construction, redundant power systems, and a dedicated emergency generator, ensuring continuity during hurricanes and other disasters. The adjacent communications tower will expand radio coverage and improve interoperability among first responders.
The nearly $20 million project is funded through a combination of a county‑secured grant and a state legislative appropriation—meaning no additional cost to local taxpayers. With design documents complete, Culpepper Construction is preparing trade packages as the project moves into full construction. The build is expected to take approximately 15 months.
County commissioners say the complex will serve as a cornerstone of Jackson County’s long‑term public‑safety strategy, providing modern infrastructure capable of supporting both current needs and future growth.
