Big Box Cop Shop Up to Voters

TACOMA-The City of Tacoma wants to turn a former Costco Wholesale site into a new “cop shop,” a $32 million new headquarters for police that also will include a fire station. The money for the project, along with another $28 million for a variety of neighborhood and civic improvements, would come from a bond issue that officially will be considered on May 15.

The mail-only ballots will be sent to voters in the next few days. If approved, the bond measure would cost property owners approximately 32 cents for each $1,000 of assessed value.

Tacoma’s 220 police officers now share an old Washington State Patrol office that once was headquarters for 40 state troopers. The new building is the largest piece of a total package estimated at $60 million.