Edgewood Police Chief Aaron Frost is thinking about the long term.
During a recent commission meeting, Frost told commissioners that he had initiated the process to request planning funding and the Independent followed up to find out more. While acknowledging that the town has other needs, Frost told the Route 66 Independent Edgewood will be applying for Congressionally Directed Spending, formerly known as earmarks, that would represent the first “baby steps” toward a new police station.
Frost said town grants coordinator Roy Hubbard is working on the project and that he anticipates the ask will be more than $1 million. New Mexico’s senators and congresspersons secured almost $1 billion in appropriations for local projects around the state in the most recent budget; Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, who represents Edgewood, has traditionally included funding for public safety asks in her requests, including more $1,000,000 each for Bernalillo County law enforcement equipment and a new fire station in Ft. Stanton in the most recent budget.
Federal money, Frost said, would cover research, site preparation and design. The actual construction of the station would be a separate expense, Frost said. He said he plans to tour nearby police stations to gain ideas for the new space.
Frost said it’s likely to be at least five years before a new station is opened. Ideally, he said, the new station would include an auditorium-style training room, a controlled entryway, and a state-of-the-art evidence room.
The police department currently operates from rented space at 21 Main Street. Frost said the department moved in a year ago and has already outgrown the space and will need more room if Edgewood grows at the anticipated rate.