OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Ground was broken Monday night for a new police station on E. Emerson Cummings Boulevard.

The new 10,000-square-foot building is expected to be completed by February 2011.

The nearly $2 million construction budget was approved by the town council last week. The new station will be funded through a bond, approved by voters last fall, that will be paid through accrued ambulance fees from the rescue billing fund.

At the ground breaking ceremony, Police Chief Dana Kelley thanked the town council for approving the bond to go out to referendum.

“Had the council not agreed to do that, it never would have gone to the voters and we never would have had the opportunity to be standing here today,” said Kelley.

Kelley said the police department is grateful that in these economic times the council came up with “a unique and innovative way to fund the project.”

The current police station was built in the 1970s, is not compliant for handicapped accessibility and is extremely cramped, he said.

Benchmark Construction and Foreside Architects have been selected as the design/build contractors for the project.

The new building, said Kevin Reilley, president of Benchmark Construction, “will serve the town for generations to come.”

Both Kelley and Town Councilor Michael Tousignant thanked the Community Watch Council for its work to promote the bond, including a video.

“I think a lot of people were surprised when they saw the condition of the building, and without that video, I’m not sure this would have passed,” said Kelley.

Thanks also went out to town staff, including the fire department, which shares the current public safety complex with the police department.

The fire department will take over the present public safety building after the police department moves to the new building. Kelley said he hopes the building is improved in the near future, as the fire department also deserves a better space.

Kelley thanked the citizens who voted to approve the bond, and said the new facility will help the department serve the town more efficiently.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.