Police Chief Unveils New Headquarters for 'Booming' Celina – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Celina Police Department invited reporters to tour the city's new, state-of-the-art police headquarters, designed to grow with a community that is growing at a record pace.

According to the city, the $37 million public safety campus is Celina's largest project to date.

The project, located at Punk Carter Parkway and Coit Road, was financed with voter-approved bonds and city money.

“It feels great. It's been a long time coming,” said Celina Chief of Police John Cullison. “Just like any other business, you want your staff, your officers, to be able to do something they can be proud of.”

According to the city, 27 hectares were purchased for the project in 2019. The headquarters would move to the old building in the city center, which previously housed a church.

According to the city, the CPD headquarters will eventually grow to 75,000 square feet.

It also features a space that can withstand an EF-5 tornado.

The main building lobby features advanced security measures and hopes to create a welcoming environment through natural light, wood accents and two large wall art installations featuring illustrations of living moss, the city's water tower and the department's Longhorn logo.

The city placed emphasis on the well-being of the officers in the project.

“If you go to a place where someone has been injured or maimed in an accident, or where someone has been a victim of domestic violence or has been attacked on the street, “There's a lot of human emotion,” Cullison said. “Then that seeps back into our officers and with a facility like this, they can decompress and deal with those moments and be better servants to our community.”

The force's 62 police officers can train in large indoor and outdoor gyms and relax in a private garden, surrounded by greenery, picnic tables, sun loungers and an awning to protect them from the sun.

Officers, staff and crime victims may also encounter Darth, the department's very own therapy dog.

This is only phase one of a master plan for the property, Cullison emphasizes.

There are plans to build Celina Fire Station 4 on the site.

The city plans to build a new dispatch center, a shooting range and a new prison in the coming years.

Another goal is to create a 'safe city' based on safety education, especially for children.

Celina tops the list of fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and is expected to continue growing, adding about 10,000 residents a year, according to city spokesman Joe Monaco.

As in any other city, growth comes with an increase in crime.

Online crime statistics show an increase in crime since the pre-pandemic period.

So far this year, Celina officers have responded to 938 incidents, most of which involved drugs, theft and burglary.

Chief Cullison expects the city to surpass the 1,160 police incidents recorded in 2023.

“We have to be ready for that, and that's why we're a proactive police department,” he said. “We work with our community. If you look at our core values, our mission, our vision, it's about partnerships.”

Previous crime figures show that there were 867 police incidents in 2022, 694 police incidents in 2021, 538 police incidents in 2020 and 378 police incidents in 2019.

After showing NBC 5 the sprawling campus and pointing out the spot where the fire department would be located, the veteran law enforcement official became somewhat emotional about the completed project.

Cullison, who previously served with the Irving Police Department, recalled a recent conversation with another police chief, who spoke to Cullison about the legacy he is leaving behind for residents and officials for decades to come.

“Three years of hard work,” he said. “I didn't want to let anyone down and I want our city to be proud of us. I want them to see what we stand for and what the city of Celina stands for. It's a 'connected' city and we're going to be great at it.”