Cape May Constructs $8 Million Police Headquarters to Unify Department

Cape May officials say a new $8 million police headquarters will finally house the whole unit. Contractor bids are due by September 9, and building is slated to begin later this fall. The city has been working toward this plan for years.

City Manager Paul Dietrich noted that the police service has long been split between Cape May and a nearby municipality. He stated that the divide has caused operational issues and inefficiencies for a department that shares services with West Cape May and Cape May Point. The city wants a single headquarters to streamline operations and give officers and staff a more contemporary, functional environment.

Cape May Police Department has 30 full-time officers plus 8–15 seasonal cops during the summer, when holidaymakers flood the area. Dietrich said the department’s growth and responsibilities necessitated the larger facility.

New building renderings show a well-planned three-story configuration. Sergeant, IT, and code enforcement offices, report-writing rooms, a victim interview room, operations center, holding cells, a sally port, and prisoner processing sections will be on the first level. Offices, an evidence room, men’s and women’s locker facilities with showers, a records office, an armory, a workout area, and training and briefing spaces are on the second level for detectives. The third story will house the chief and captain’s offices, an administration suite, records storage, uniform and equipment rooms, and an observation deck.

City officials wanted the new police headquarters to reflect Cape May’s identity beyond utility. The modern facility will harmonize with the city’s Victorian style. Cape May worked closely with the historic preservation committee to guarantee the building retains its architectural appeal for locals and tourists, Dietrich said.

Years of planning and debate led to this endeavor. In 2019, city officials proposed a referendum to establish a fire-police public safety building. After voters rejected that idea, a new standalone fire station debuted in 2024. After finishing that, the city focused on giving the police department a headquarters, which is nearing completion.

Cape May officials say this investment is about public safety in a growing city, not just more walls and facilities. After completion, the new police headquarters will provide officers with the space, equipment, and efficiency they need to serve citizens, neighboring communities, and the millions of Jersey Shore visitors.

Sources

City of Cape May Government
NJ.com News Coverage
Press of Atlantic City