Lexington Cuts the Ribbon on State-of-the-Art Police Station
O n the warm morning of June 18th, Lexington celebrated an important milestone, with the grand opening of its new police station. The opening of this state-of-the-art facility marks the end of a long journey for the town, decades of planning, community engagement, and hard work. The event was attended by several key figures, including Town Manager Jim Malloy, Select Board Chair Doug Lucente, Police Chief Mike McLean, State Representative Michelle Ciccolo, State Senator Cindy Friedman, and Public Facilities Director Mike Cronin, who each shared insights and reflections on this achievement. Select Board members Joe Pato, Jill Hai, and Mark Sandeen were also present.
JIM MALLOY’S FAREWELL AND REFLECTION Lexington’s town manager, Jim Malloy, opened the ceremony with heartfelt comments. This project marks his last public building endeavor before his upcoming retirement. Malloy emphasized the significance of the new police station, the 22nd public building he contributed to during his career. He highlighted the police station’s long journey, noting that discussions about the new building began nearly two decades ago, around 2007. Malloy also addressed the building’s size concerns but emphasized the facility would serve the community for years. He expressed confidence that the new station would enhance staff morale, translating into better services for Lexington residents. “This building, and the staff that will be working in here, will be providing great services to all of you for decades to come.” Malloy congratulated the community on this extraordinary achievement.
DOUG LUCENTE’S TRIBUTE TO TEAMWORK Doug Lucente took the podium with a humorous analogy that resonated deeply with the audience. Drawing a parallel to the Boston Celtics’ NBA championship win from the night before, Lucente talked about the power of teamwork. “You can see what you can achieve when you work together. And today we’re celebrating a different victory, one of teamwork and perseverance for Lexington. And I’m also equally impressed by the results.” He reflected on the extensive community engagement that marked the project’s journey, from public meetings to individual feedback sessions.
Lucente recounted his involvement, which began shortly after he joined the Select Board in 2017. He detailed the challenges and collaborative efforts that shaped the project, including the community outreach pause in 2021 to refine plans based on resident feedback. This engagement led to significant design changes, such as more welcoming spaces, flexible locker rooms, and futures for collaboration with mental health professionals.
Lucente expressed gratitude to numerous contributors, including Tecton Architects, past and present directors of public facilities, police chiefs, town managers, fellow Select Board members, and the voters of Lexington. He emphasized that the new police station represents not just a building, but a new chapter for the town, symbolizing safety, justice, and community spirit. “So as we cut the ribbon today, we’re not just opening a new building, but we’re opening a new chapter for Lexington’s history where we can come together as a community to represent safety, justice, and a better future for our residents.”
STATE REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE CICCOLO’S COMMENDATION State Representative Michelle Ciccolo echoed Lucente’s acknowledgments and added her gratitude for the police department’s dual roles in their daily duties and help in the development of the project. She praised the community’s ability to overcome challenges and competing interests to achieve this milestone. Ciccolo read a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, congratulating the Lexington Police Department and extending best wishes for future success. Joining Ciccolo was State Senator Cynthia Friedman who also spoke. She said, “We are expecting so much from law enforcement, and their roles have changed so significantly over the past 20 or 30 years. And when a community comes together and acknowledges that through support, one of them being the space in which you do your business is really, important” she concluded by congratulating Lexington for their achievement and expressed her pride in representing Lexington in the State Senate.
POLICE CHIEF MIKE MCLEAN’S APPRECIATION Police Chief Mike McLean, who was deeply involved in the project’s details, shared his perspective. He emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, thanking the community, boards, committees, and fellow staff members for their support. He said, “We understand that the community and the town really do support us. And just having this in here and having everybody available to come into the station really means a lot to us.” McLean highlighted the project’s thoughtful pause for community engagement, which led to enhancements like a welcoming lobby, a community multipurpose room, and integrated spaces for mental health professionals. “To take a thoughtful pause in the middle of a project can be difficult, but it really made this project very unique in the fact that we did reopen it up to community engagement and what the community wanted to see in the department.”
McLean noted the importance of the new facility in addressing recruitment and retention challenges, making the Lexington Police Department an attractive workplace. He acknowledged key contributors, including Tecton Architects, CTA Construction, and town managers, for their roles in the project’s success. “I understand this project never could have happened without the overwhelming support of everyone in the community. This is something that means a lot to the staff who work in the building.”
Chief McLean thanked his command staff for their involvement throughout the process. He especially singled out Captain John Mazerall who played a key role working between the department and public facilities director Mike Cronin.
MIKE CRONIN’S TEAMWORK ACKNOWLEDGMENT Public Facilities Director Mike Cronin concluded the comments, drawing another parallel to the Celtics’ teamwork. He praised the numerous boards, committees, architects, engineers, and town staff involved in the project’s development. Cronin emphasized that the new police station’s completion was a result of collective effort and community collaboration. “There’s no one MVP. This was about teamwork from the entire community.”
RIBBON CUTTING AND FUTURE OUTLOOK The ceremony concluded with the symbolic ribbon-cutting, marking the official opening of the new police station. The building has now been in use for a little over a month and it is nothing short of impressive.
In an exclusive interview, which took place on July 31st, Chief Mike McLean discussed the impact of the new police station on the department and the community. This facility, designed with both functionality and community engagement in mind, represents a significant upgrade from the previous building, offering enhanced spaces and improved working conditions for officers.
Chief McLean emphasized the benefits of the new station, particularly in providing officers with adequate space to perform their duties effectively. “We still have the same staffing and programs, but now officers have the proper amount of space to effectively do their job,” he noted. This includes private offices for detectives to conduct confidential conversations and ample storage for evidence, which was a significant challenge in the old building.
The new facility also focuses on officer wellness, featuring a well-equipped locker room and workout facility. “We want officers who are in good shape and a good mental place. They’re going to have positive interactions,” Chief McLean explained, highlighting the importance of a supportive environment for staff.
Community interaction is an important part of the new police station’s design. The welcoming lobby and community rooms are intended to serve as spaces for positive community engagement. “Most people who come into a police station are having a bad day. To be able to use the space for community meetings is great for us,” Chief McLean said.
Safety is another critical aspect of the new building. Enhanced safety protocols and measures are in place to protect both officers and the public. “Safety in the building is paramount for not only the sworn police officers but our civilian staff and detainees as well,” Chief McLean stated, emphasizing the safety features throughout the facility.
The station also has many impressive technological advancements in its dispatch center. The expanded space and updated technology allow for better coordination and response to emergencies. “We’ve doubled or tripled the size of dispatch. It really has put us in a good position to be successful,” Chief McLean noted.
Lexington’s new police station is also making strides in sustainability. The facility is set to become one of the first net-zero police stations in Massachusetts, showcasing the town’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Chief McLean credited Mike Cronin from facilities for his efforts in making the solar array plan both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
The department’s dedication to excellence is further demonstrated by its commitment to maintaining accreditation. “Accreditation is a set of industry best practices that are set at the national and state level. We’re up for our third re-accreditation, and we’re very proud of that,” Chief McLean shared. This rigorous process ensures that the department adheres to high standards in policies, procedures, and overall operations.
Chief McLean also highlighted the importance of respect and compassion within the department. “Everybody needs to be treated with dignity and respect. We’re all on the same team, trying to do the same job and serve the community well,” he said. This philosophy extends to the treatment of everyone, emphasizing fairness and understanding throughout the process.