BLOOMINGTON, Ind — The Bloomington Police Department’s potential relocation has been met with opposition from the police union. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 is urging the city council to delay the sale of the current police department facility on Third Street.
The city council is set to vote on Wednesday to sell the property, with the department relocating to a newer facility within the Showers building. Interested bidders have offered between $3 million to $5 million for the property, and the funds generated from the sale would go towards financing the move.
However, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88, Paul Post, expresses concerns about the proposed new location. He believes the Showers building lacks sufficient space for emergency vehicles to maneuver quickly. Post says, That building is kind of landlocked with an existing surface lot, and it’s right up against the B-Line Trail. It’s right up against the existing Showers city hall parking area.
While Post is not opposed to the move, he believes it should be delayed until Mayor-Elect Kerry Thomson takes office in January. Mayor John Hamilton, who did not seek a third term, and Thomson are both members of the Democratic Party.
Post also highlights the city’s lack of a plan for relocating the emergency communications antenna currently atop the Police Department. The antenna serves multiple entities, including the Bloomington Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, EMS (emergency medical services), and local emergency management. Post emphasizes the urgency of finding a solution, stating, It’s kind of a big deal that can’t be put off until later. We need to have a solution to that.
Sue Sgambelluri, the president of the City Council, acknowledges that they have the power to reject the sale or postpone the vote. Post hopes the council chooses the latter option, expressing concerns about moving forward without satisfactory answers to important questions. He remarks, If we’re saying, ‘Hey, we’ll just deal with this stuff later on,’ ‘it’s not a big deal,’ ‘we’ll find the money somewhere else,’ those are pretty concerning statements to us.
Efforts to obtain comments from Mayor John Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Larry Allen regarding the concerns raised were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting.
In this ongoing debate regarding the Bloomington Police Department’s relocation, both sides present valid arguments. While the proposed move to the Showers building offers a newer facility, concerns regarding limited space for emergency vehicles and the unresolved issue of the emergency communications antenna need to be addressed. As the city council prepares to vote, residents await a decision that balances the needs of the police department, emergency services, and the community as a whole.
