UMATILLA, Ore.—After years of planning, multiple public votes, and extensive design work, the City of Umatilla officially broke ground this week on its new police station—marking a major milestone for a project long viewed as essential to the community’s safety and growth.
City officials, police leadership, contractors, and dozens of residents gathered on March 3, 2026, at 300 6th Street to celebrate the start of construction on the modern facility. The ceremony symbolized the transition from planning to building, with leaders emphasizing how transformative the new station will be for both officers and the public.
A Modern Facility to Replace an Outdated, Unsafe Building
The new station—approximately 14,000 to 15,000 square feet—will replace the department’s current home, a small modular building originally designed as city hall. The existing structure lacks modern safety features, adequate space, and seismic resilience, and cannot support the city’s growing population or the increasing demands on public safety services.
The new building will include:
- Dedicated rooms for meeting with victims and witnesses
- State‑of‑the‑art evidence storage
- Secure interview rooms
- A sally port for safer detainee transport
- A public community room
- Space to add dispatch services in the future
These features address long‑standing operational gaps that officers say hinder their ability to serve the community effectively.
Funding Secured After Voter Approval
The project is funded by a $19.8 million bond measure approved by voters in November 2025. Notably, 93.5% of the bond’s cost will be covered by businesses within the Greater Umatilla Enterprise Zone, significantly reducing the tax burden on local residents.
According to the city’s project page, expenditures to date total $15.9 million, with the remaining $3.9 million allocated for final construction and owner costs.
Construction Approach and Timeline
The city is using a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) delivery method, which allows design and construction teams to collaborate early and reduce cost and schedule risks. Chervenell Construction was selected as the CM/GC after a competitive qualifications‑based process. Mackenzie provided design services for the project and aided the city with public outreach for the voter-approved bond that is funding its construction.
The new station is being built behind the current police station. Once complete, the old building will be demolished to make room for expanded parking.
While the city has not published a final completion date, similar CM/GC public safety buildings typically require 14–20 months of construction, placing likely completion sometime in mid‑to‑late 2027.
What Comes Next
With the groundbreaking complete, construction crews will begin site preparation, foundation work, and structural framing over the coming months. The city is expected to release periodic updates as the project progresses.
