Assistant Chief of Police Joe Vargas said the cutting-edge upgrades in resources available at the new headquarters have expanded the capabilities of the department.
“We pride ourselves on providing the absolute best service that we can in the community and meeting those expectations and providing for that quality of life,” Vargas said. “These things help us get there far more efficiently than we could in the past.”
The two-story headquarters includes office space for all police divisions, a large break room, expanded evidence storage and training rooms. Multiple departments also have their own conference rooms in addition to an emergency operation center.
A new dispatch facility with cutting-edge technology houses seven staff, with the capability of expanding to 15 as the New Braunfels population trends upward.
Behind the headquarters is a brand new 14,000-square-foot annex facility, which houses vehicle maintenance bays, river patrol equipment and a gym. Vargas said that the new space has given officers a renewed sense of pride in their jobs and has helped with recruiting new staff.
“You get that renewed sense of enthusiasm for what you do, and so I think that impact has a ton of positive impact on our [officers],” Vargas said.
On the property of the headquarters is a new veterans memorial—visible from San Antonio Street and in front of the entrance—that pays tribute to residents of New Braunfels who have served the country. Members of the community can purchase an inscribed brick that will be permanently installed in the memorial.
Residents can utilize the new police department headquarters by filing police reports and records requests at the facility. A public space to host meetings can also be reserved by groups or organizations.
“I’m most excited for [our officers] ... to see their reactions when they actually came over here and got to be in a building that has enough space and has all the amenities,” New Braunfels Chief of Police Keith Lane said. “It shows them how much the community values them.”
