UMATILLA, Ore.-The Umatilla Police Department (UPD) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new station on March 3.
Umatilla Police, City staff and officials, contractors, and Umatilla residents attended the ceremony celebrating the new police station project at 300 6th Street.
“This new station is a beautiful opportunity for this community and the police department and will bring us into modern-day policing and give us the ability to serve this community at a much higher level,” said Umatilla PD Chief Ron Bridge.
Voters in Umatilla approved Measure 30-168, a $19.8 million general obligation bond, which dedicates property tax revenue to fund the new police station, in November 2025.
Measure 30-168 is a 20-year bond measure that will use a shared tax rate of 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value from both businesses and Umatilla residents to fund construction of the station, according to the City of Umatilla.
Umatilla Mayor Caden Sipe thanked the voters, the community, City Council, and the Umatilla Police Department for the success of the new station project at the groundbreaking, and attendees had the opportunity to visit with UPD officers and contractors about the project.
“This purpose-built building was designed over a four-year period, and we have included room for growth and professionalism,” said Bridge.
The new 14,000 square-foot station will include dedicated space for UPD officers to meet with victims or witnesses and conduct secure interviews, will utilize modern technology, has adequate space for evidence storage, and will allow officers to access physical and mental health resources.
The new police station will also feature a community room for meetings and events and will allow the Umatilla PD the space to accommodate additional staff in the future.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working with the City of Umatilla and staff since 2022 on this project,” said David Litton, an architect with Mackenzie Architecture. “This is rewarding, we’re happy to see ground moving now. The new station will be a great cornerstone for the community when done.”
Construction will be done in two phases, with the new station being built in phase one, followed by demolition of the old station during phase two. The project is expected to be completed by Summer 2027.
More information about the UPD station project is available online through the City of Umatilla and the Umatilla PD.
