Melbourne Police held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center

The two-story, 76,000-square-foot building can withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Melbourne Police Department held a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the new Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center.

“This center is not just a building; it is a commitment to serve and protect our community. This is a tribute to Officer Joseph Pellicano and a symbol of our connection to all of you. Your continued support, love and trust means a lot to our department and inspires us to work harder every day,” a Melbourne Police spokesman said.

The new Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center is located at 250 West NASA Boulevard in Melbourne.

“Construction of our new police station, the Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center, has been a labor of love for several years. We officers and staff look forward to this move and the opportunity to work in a centralized, efficient 21st century policing department,” a Melbourne Police spokesman said.

The new facility is named after Joseph Pellicano, a distinguished officer and respected member of the law enforcement family who was killed in the line of duty on October 17, 1986. Melbourne City Council has named a new police facility in honor of his victim. .

MPD Consolidated Headquarters Building

The Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center is the new integrated headquarters building for the Melbourne Police Department. It was designed to last for decades and will improve operational efficiencies, improve services to the public and improve the city’s response to natural disasters.

Six years ago, Melbourne residents supported the city council’s idea to replace two outdated, dilapidated buildings with a new building that would bring all police services under one roof. On November 6, 2018, they voted to approve funding for a new police department building through general obligation bonds.

This investment has enabled the City of Melbourne to deliver a state-of-the-art building with many benefits and features that will significantly improve our service to the community now and in the future.

Public Safety and Emergency Response

The new facility is reinforced to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Redundant systems ensure that the city’s emergency operations center and 911 communications center can always respond to the public in times of need—even during a catastrophic storm.

Key features include a sloped concrete wall design, a generator with a 10,000 gallon fuel tank that can run on site for two weeks, the ability to easily connect an additional generator and air conditioning system if needed, a backup water system and a backup sanitation system. sewer system.

Improving service, public relations and crime prevention

The expansion and modernization of the Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center facilities will allow the department to provide enhanced services to support citizens and victims.

Having separate interview rooms outside the lobby will better serve victims, and the lobby itself will become an attractive location for those in need of police services.

The multi-purpose community facility will allow residents and officers to collaborate on crime prevention and other initiatives that will help make neighborhoods safer.

Expanded evidence processing and storage space

There is a support building for evidence analysis and storage that does not require climate control, as well as secure storage areas for confiscated vehicles and equipment.

In addition, the facility is designed to better process evidence by providing crime scene investigators with dedicated space to conduct certain types of processing in rooms designated for detailed examinations.

The new property and evidence room can store approximately 100,000 pieces of evidence. The expansion of staff workspaces will improve staff working conditions and facilitate more efficient processing of evidence.

Training and other amenities for police officers

New training facilities, including a dedicated defensive tactics room and weight room, will allow MPD to conduct its own training. This will allow MPD to more efficiently schedule required training and with less disruption to officers’ schedules.

The center also has two bunk rooms where night shift officers can rest if they have to appear in court the morning after their shift.

Outbuildings on site include covered areas for specialty vehicles such as an armored SWAT vehicle, a command trailer, a crisis negotiator van and more.

SWAT, Dive Rescue and other special teams now have dedicated storage areas for their equipment.

Improved K9 objects

The new kennels will have enough space for police K9s. The site also includes space for future outdoor training and a possible expansion of the K9 obstacle course.

Investing in the future

The Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center is a two-story, 75,000-square-foot building designed to improve current operating conditions, expand agency capabilities and improve service delivery to the public. The new building will provide a safer and cleaner work environment, additional service capabilities and room for expansion into the foreseeable future.

About Officer Joseph Pellicano

The Melbourne City Council named the facility in honor of Officer Joseph Pellicano, the only member of the Melbourne Police Department to die in the line of duty.

Officer Pellicano’s watch ended on October 17, 1986, when he was struck by a car while directing traffic at a house fire on Sarno Road.

At the time of his death, Officer Pellicano had been working for the Melbourne Police Department as a patrol officer for three and a half years. He was twice awarded the department’s Distinguished Service Citation, including once in 1983 for pulling a man from a burning building.

He coached the Police Athletic League and loved working with youth to make a difference in the lives of others. Officer Pellicano attended Brevard Community College where he was pursuing an associate’s degree in criminal justice.

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