Oviedo is growing, growing and well… growing. The city’s population is expected to reach 50,000 people by 2038. With this increase in size,
(photo by Isaiah Macri)
the police force has struggled to keep up. In 2016, $11.4 million was allocated to build a new police station, then in 2023, a bond referendum to add $35.5 million to that number failed on the ballot. A referendum for $20.4 million failed again in 2024.
After constant setbacks, mainly due to increases in construction and material costs as well as citizens not willing to fund the station with tax money, the city is finally moving forward with a project to expand the current station using the original $11.4 million as opposed to building a new one. The expansion will be a 10,000-square-foot annex building constructed next to the current public safety headquarters.
“It’s definitely necessary, people are working out of closets and we don’t have room to do training for new officers,” Lieutenant Adam Egert, who currently works at the current facility said.
The department is also struggling to find places to store evidence. The current station also lacks a K9 facility. Egert worries that the city will have similar issues in the future, even with the expansion.
“Nobody wants to pay more taxes, but the population keeps growing. In about 15 years, we’re going to be in the exact same situation, and it’s going to be way more expensive to build,” Egert said. “We’re just pushing it back.”
Even with Oviedo’s low crime rate, which is 36 points lower than the national average, officers still emphasize the need for a strong police presence. It is unknown when construction will begin, but the city is moving forward with the process.
