Slidell Breaks Ground on New Police Department Headquarters

SLIDELL, La. — A project nearly a decade in the making is officially underway as the City of Slidell has broken ground on a new, modern headquarters for the Slidell Police Department.

Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal joined Police Chief Tommy Williams, members of the Slidell City Council, city officials, elected leaders, community representatives and residents on September 3 for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of construction.

The new facility will replace a police department building that has served the city for more than 60 years and has endured hurricanes, flooding, electrical problems and numerous mechanical issues over the decades.

For Fandal, who previously served as Slidell’s police chief before becoming mayor, the groundbreaking represents the culmination of years of discussions about the future of public safety in the city.

“Today is a very special day for me, both as mayor and someone who has had the privilege to serve as the Chief of Police for Slidell,” Fandal said.

According to Fandal, discussions about the department’s future began approximately nine years ago as city leaders considered what Slidell would need as the community continued to grow.

A major step toward making the project possible came in April 2024, when Slidell voters approved a public safety tax. That funding allowed the city to move forward with planning for the new facility.

“We worked with our citizens, and in April 2024, the citizens of Slidell passed a public safety tax, allowing us to begin our future,” Fandal said. “After a year of planning, hard work and commitment, we’re finally here.”

A New Home For Slidell Police

The new police headquarters is expected to provide significantly improved space and resources for officers and department employees while giving the city a facility designed around modern law enforcement needs.

Slidell’s current police building has served generations of officers, but after more than six decades, city officials say the department needs a facility capable of supporting both its current operations and the city’s future growth.

Chief Tommy Williams described the groundbreaking as much more than simply the beginning of another construction project.

“Today, the ground we break is more than soil, it’s the beginning of a home where service, courage and commitment will take shape for decades to come,” Williams said.

Williams also acknowledged just how much the department’s existing building has endured.

“Our current building has withstood countless storms, floods, small electrical fires and numerous mechanical challenges for more than 60 years,” Williams said. “This new police facility represents our belief in a safer, stronger future for the City of Slidell.”

The new headquarters is expected to be completed in spring 2028.

$17.5 Million Investment In Public Safety

The estimated construction cost for the new Slidell Police Department is $17.5 million.

The facility was designed by MP Design Group, while Voelkel McWilliams Construction, LLC will handle construction.

City leaders credited both current and former members of the Slidell City Council, city employees and members of the community for helping move the project from an idea discussed years ago to construction.

Fandal and Williams also thanked Slidell residents for supporting the public safety initiative that ultimately allowed the city to move forward with the project.

The investment comes as Slidell continues to grow and public safety agencies face increasing demands for modern technology, adequate working space and facilities capable of remaining operational during emergencies.

For a city that has experienced its share of hurricanes, flooding and other major events, the new headquarters is intended to provide Slidell police with a home built for the decades ahead.

A Fitting New Address

There is also one detail about the project that is difficult to overlook.

The new Slidell Police Department will be located at 911 Robert Blvd.

Whether coincidence or perfect planning, the address could hardly be more appropriate for the future home of one of Slidell’s primary emergency response agencies.

Construction will now move forward with completion anticipated in spring 2028.

After years of discussions, planning and voter approval, the September 3 groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Slidell Police Department and a major investment in the future of public safety in the city.