By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — A well-attended ribbon cutting Wednesday christened the Millsboro Police Department.

The event’s attendees agreed that the goal of the state-of-the-art 14,000-square-foot station at 120 Railroad Ave. is community bonding.

“Six years ago, when we began the process of designing a new police station for the town of Millsboro, service to the community was always our primary mission,” Chief Brian Calloway said. “We wanted to ensure our building would represent our town in a professional manner, while also welcoming whoever enters through these doors. We wanted our front to welcome guests because that often is the first step in changing someone’s life.”

Town manager Jamie Burk concurred, noting, “On a day as momentous as this, we need to pause and remember that this building is not just the Millsboro Police Department’s building, but rather, this building belongs to the residents of Millsboro.”

Local, county, state and federal officials joined other dignitaries for the ceremony, which was followed by guided tours by town officers.

“Beyond the brick and mortar, this building embodies something even more profound,” said Mayor Jim Kells. “It represents the bond between law enforcement and the community they serve. From outreach activities such as Whiskers for Wishes, involvement in the Special Olympics and the Polar Bear Plunge, Chief Calloway’s team has reaffirmed their commitment to foster trust, transparency and goodwill.

“May this building and the men and women who serve in it be a beacon (of) hope, resilience and justice for all who call the town of Millsboro home.”

From conception to completion, the project was an arduous journey. Ground was broken for the $7.4 million headquarters in October 2022.

“We worked through a pandemic, weathered supply chain disruption, experienced material cost escalation and other serious challenges along the way,” said Mr. Burk. “Chief Calloway and the rest of the Millsboro team worked tirelessly to identify solutions and keep costs down.”

The chief added that the building is a “direct result of residents coming together and voting for the referendum, allowing our town to accomplish this goal. Through the commitment we made to our residents, we were able to construct this building without the need to raise taxes.”

Also on hand Wednesday was U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, whose office secured $550,000 in federal funding for the facility’s community/training room. In addition, the state’s congressional delegation was instrumental in obtaining a $7.6 million, 40-year loan for the project.

“A lot of good is going to happen out of this building,” Sen. Carper said. “It’s a beautiful building. But, at the end of the day, the key here is the men and women who work here and their commitment to this community. It is a day (to) celebrate.”

The headquarters includes a training facility, a sally port, a fitness area, lockers that can accommodate up to 30 employees, larger spaces for detectives and administration, a break room and several interview locations.

The need for a larger station evolved as the force outgrew its 307 Main St. site, which has served the agency about a quarter-century. The new building is more centrally located, providing quicker access to U.S. 113, the highway that divides the east and west sides of town.

Support for the project included that of Mountaire Farms.

“When Mountaire Farms heard of our desire to provide a place for our youth, without hesitation, (it) stepped up, and through their commitment, they donated all the funds for us to have a basketball court at this facility,” Chief Calloway said. “This basketball court will be a place for our youth to play and engage with our police officers.”

Public tours will be held Friday, March 29 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 30 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Staff writer Glenn Rolfe can be reached at grolfe@iniusa.org. Follow @glennrolfeBTBN on X.