The Mt. Olive Police Department will have much more room and updated space now that an expansion project has been approved by town leaders.
The Mt. Olive Twp. Council approved a resolution at its March 10 council meeting to renovate the MOPD headquarters once the Mt. Olive Twp. Health Department moves into its new building next to the Mt. Olive Senior Center. If all goes according to plan, police officers and staff will be able to spread out by 2028 with additional offices, meeting rooms, lockers rooms and storage space.
Significant interior renovations are needed to support the divisions in the police department to provide the level of services to the residents and the Mt. Olive community.
“This initiative represents a critical investment in the safety, efficiency and long-term sustainability of our community's public safety infrastructure,” explains Mt. Olive Twp. Mayor Joe Nicastro in a letter of strong support of this project.
“For many years, our police department has operated within a facility that no longer meets the operational demands of a modern law enforcement agency,” he says. “The current space is undersized and outdated, creating significant limitations on staffing, training, technology implementation and daily operations.
“As our township continues to grow, these constraints increasingly hinder our ability to provide the level of service our residents expect and deserve,” adds Nicastro.
The idea for this project was initially discussed five years ago, in 2021 concurrently and contingent upon the Health Department project, explains Mt. Olive Twp. Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko.
“At that time, Chief Beecher and Captain Spitzer approached the administration explaining their need for additional office space, meeting rooms, locker rooms and storage to accommodate our growing needs,” says Tatarenko. “The idea was to move the Health Department into a new location adjacent the Senior Center and for the Police Department to utilize the vacated 2,500 square feet.
“Around that same time, a Community Funding Project grant was announced which provided funding for the construction of new Health Departments in which the township applied for and subsequently received putting both projects in motion,” he explains.
This is a federal grant program, says Tatarenko. Applications are being sent to Congressman Thomas Kean Jr.’s Office, who will then select 15 applications from all of his districts to present for federal funding.
The plan is for the police department to use the vacated health department space and the existing Police Department, but with renovations to maximize the available space.
The funds would be used for the construction and renovation aspect of the project, says Tatarenko. The Township recently approved funding for an architect to design the plans, if the grant is awarded, funds will be used to start construction.
The resolution passed by the council states that the MOPD “currently operates from a facility that has become undersized and inadequate to support modern policing operations, creating operational challenges and limiting the department’s ability to effectively serve a growing population.”
The council is seeking funding in the amount of $2 million through the 2027 Community Project Funding Program to assist with the costs associated with this project.
The vacated space is approximately 2,500 square feet, however, the existing 9,000 square feet would also have to be renovated, adds Tatarenko. The project will go out to bid so the cost is currently unknown.
“This project will fund the construction, reconstruction, and expansion of the existing police department footprint by retrofitting space currently occupied by our Health Department,” explains Nicastro. “By repurposing this vacated municipal space, we are taking a fiscally responsible and environmentally sound approach. This strategy avoids costly land acquisition and new standalone construction, reduces waste, conserves energy and materials and maximizes the use of existing public assets.”
Timetable for the construction is unknown, and the construction of the new health department has been delayed.
“Once an architect has been hired, it will take about eight to ten months to design and engineer the renovations,” says Tatarenko. “In addition, the Health Department won’t move out of their location until mid-2027. I don’t see construction starting until 2028.
“Health Department is moving along but the harsh winter definitely slowed down the contractor,” he adds. “It was an 18-month contract so it’s expected to be complete next summer.”
Nicastro justifies in his letter to the council why these renovations are a benefit to the township and police department and a top priority for the administration.
“The benefits of this expansion are both immediate and long-term,” says the mayor. “The upgraded facility will: Provide adequate locker rooms, private quarters and dedicated wellness space to support officer health, morale and retention. Create modern training areas to ensure our officers remain prepared, skilled and equipped to meet evolving public safety challenges. Allow for updated technology integration that enhances operational efficiency and investigative capabilities. Improve overall functionality, leading to faster response times and stronger crime-solving capacity.
“Public safety is the foundation of a thriving community,” he says. “An expanded and modernized police facility will directly enhance community-oriented policing efforts, strengthen officer wellness and ensure our department has the capacity to serve residents effectively for decades to come. Equally important, this project reflects thoughtful municipal planning. The Health Department will move into a much-needed new facility, while the Police Department will optimize the vacated space-demonstrating our commitment to smart growth, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and improved municipal services across departments.
“I respectfully urge favorable consideration and support for this important project, which will meaningfully strengthen public safety and enhance the quality of life for all who live and work in Mount Olive Township.”
The Mt. Olive Police Chief could not agree more.
“Our department is in need of the proposed expansion,” says MOTPD Chief Mike Cordileone. “The additional space will allow us to adequately support each of our divisions—Communications and Records, Support Services/Traffic, Patrol and Investigations—by providing the room necessary for their continued growth and effectiveness.
“Our current locker rooms are outdated and no longer meet the needs of our staff,” adds Cordileone. “Due to limited space, many staff officers (lieutenants, captains, chief) have given up their lockers so that newer officers have secure areas to store their equipment. This is not sustainable. Upgraded, properly sized locker facilities are essential for both safety and operational efficiency.
“Additionally, during our last reconfiguration, we lost our training and briefing room to make space for the Traffic Unit and the second captain’s office,” he details. “A dedicated training/briefing room is desperately needed to maintain our readiness, support ongoing professional development and ensure consistent communication across the department.”
With a township growing in its number of residents, especially with the affordable housing projects, extra space is necessary for the police department to function.
According to Tatarenko, a large project on Love Lane is currently under construction, two new apartment buildings have been approved for the Village Green with a pending application for more units, and the fourth-round affordable housing plan was just approved requiring an additional 317 affordable units which may result in even more market unit development.
“With the significant development projects currently underway throughout the town, we anticipate that call volume and service demands will continue to rise,” says Cordileone. “Last year alone, we handled approximately 100,000 calls for service, and that number is expected to grow.
“This expansion will provide the space and resources necessary for us to continue serving the community at the high standard our residents expect and deserve,” he concludes.
