The Town of North Hempstead approved a $32 million bond for the construction of Port Washington Police District’s new headquarters despite multiple residents criticizing the project.

Port Washington Police Chief Robert Del Muro said the headquarters is a much-needed update to meet the growing needs of the police district.

“A new facility will provide us with modern infrastructure and technology for a 21st-century police district,” Del Muro said.

Del Muro said the current headquarters is overcrowded, has a shortage of offices, insufficient spaces for female officers and inadequate storage space. The new facility would provide for those needs.

“The Port Washington Police District is seeking bond approval for a new headquarters facility because our current one is deficient in numerous areas and has been for decades,” Del Muro said.

The town board unanimously approved the police district’s $32 million bond.

The bond would only apply to Port Washington Police District residents and the police district estimated would cost the average-valued household $150.70 a year.

The police district is unable to issue its own bonds but can do so through the town or a private company. The police district’s counsel said bonding through a private company would yield a higher cost to taxpayers than through the town.

One resident presented a petition signed by more than 200 people from the Police Department’s area of service calling for a referendum to be held on the bond. This would allow police district residents to directly vote on the bond.

Town attorney Richard Nicolello said that a referendum is not required nor permitted under New York State local finance law. He said it would not be an appropriate subject for spending money.

A majority of residents who spoke Tuesday night expressed their opposition to the new headquarters and the bond being voted on.

Concerns expressed by residents included the high cost, its location on Main Street, its scope and the preservation of trees.

“I’m trying to just understand and comprehend how something like that could be allowed when countless mom-and-pop shops are denied to even open up. That could really bring the town up,” one resident said of the headquarters on Main Street. “It just is absurd to me.”

Police Commissioner Sean McCarthy said having the headquarters on Main Street is a great location that will tie in with the other public buildings like the post office and the library.

“I think it affords a terrific look and it would greatly improve the quality of life and make police services available, not just 9-1-1- services [but] police walk-in services available due to its proximity to the train station and its proximity to the vital part of Main Street where most of us live,” McCarthy said.

Port Washington resident Robert Mann argued against the need for a larger facility and called for a multi-year plan to be presented and reviewed by the community.

“I don’t understand how Port Washington, this small town, is turning into a police state where this is the beacon in the middle of town,” one resident said.

Some residents did express their support for the new headquarters, including Port resident Steve Catrone, who called it a “win-win” for the town. He praised the police district for listening to resident concerns and working to accommodate them.

DeSena said the building decisions were made by the police district and its commissioners, which had been presented to the community for input at the Police Department’s information sessions in May and June.

Input included a call for a traffic study, Del Muro said, which the police district conducted despite not being required to.

The property for the new headquarters has multiple mature trees. McCarthy said the district plans to preserve as many as possible.

McCarthy said multiple residents and local organizations joined the police district members on a tour of the property to identify which trees and natural vegetation to preserve. He said building plans are being adapted to do so.

The decision on the new headquarters was made by the police district’s administration, including its elected commissioners.

Multiple residents said no commissioners have run for election on the platform of advancing a new headquarters. McCarthy set the record straight and said that he had, which was reported by Blank Slate Media.

Police Commissioner JB Meyer said he, too, ran for election in 2023 with the intent to advance the district’s new headquarters plan.