The City Council selected Mahoney as the site for a new police station at their June 17, 2025 meeting. The proposed new building would be built on the current field. This decision aligns with the recommendation of the City's former ad-hoc Facilities Committee, the Owner's Representative helping to lead the facilities renovation project, and the design team. Systematic reviews and assessments of all of the available options were conducted and the Council engaged in months of discussion before making the decision to build a new police station at Mahoney. 

Watch the June 12, 2025 meeting video to learn why the City Council voted unanimously in support of this location (discussion begins at 11:48). You can also visit the Public Safety Facilities page to see the site assessments from various experts. Read below to hear from the Mayor and City staff on the need for and location of the new police station, plus the vision for the future including outdoor space at Mahoney. 

Selection of the Mahoney Site

"The City Council very carefully considered the handful of options we have for the location of a new police station. Building a new station on the Mahoney property was recommended by our former ad-hoc facilities committee that spent two years examining the city's facilities needs. Because the location of a new police station is such an important decision, the Council also sought input from our owner's representative leading the facilities renovation project as well as our design firm, which has expertise in public safety facilities design and construction. All recommended the Mahoney site. While we understand concerns some members of the public have shared, in carefully considering what our Police Department needs to effectively serve the South Portland community now and into the future, Mahoney is the best option." - Mayor Richard Matthews

Need for a New Police Station

"South Portland's police station has numerous and major deficiencies that must be addressed, and building a new facility is the most effective way to do so. There is regularly water intrusion into the building and the aging HVAC system is hanging on by a thread. It's not uncommon for our police officers to be working without heat for periods in the dead of winter or walking through puddles in the hallway. The building does not meet current building codes and is not ADA compliant, meaning that it is inaccessible to many in our community. The current facility is also too small and lacks critical components that support SPPD's work keeping the community safe. A new police station will solve these problems and enable the police department to continue to serve our growing community well, and well into the future." - Facilities Director Don Hopkins

Community Policing

"Community policing is very important to the South Portland Police Department. It focuses on building collaborative relationships between police and the communities we serve. It not only helps proactively reduce crime, but it invites the community to be partners in our goal of creating a safe city where everyone can enjoy a good life. A new easily accessible police station that is part of the Mahoney campus will not only solve the many serious deficiencies at our current facility, it will also enable us to better connect and build relationships with our community. Imagine kids chatting with some of our friendly officers as their parents are at Mahoney to vote or pay a bill or drop off library books. This is the kind of community building we can be part of at Mahoney." - Police Chief Dan Ahern

Neighborhood Impacts

"We understand that some are concerned about a police station at Mahoney. We want to assure residents that the new police station will be designed with utmost attention to these concerns. We take our role as a good neighbor seriously, and our goal is for the new station to be a welcoming and inviting environment for all." - Police Chief Dan Ahern

Outdoor Space at Mahoney

"Some residents have expressed concern about losing green space with the new police station proposed to be built on the current field. I empathize -- both as a person who values open space and as a parent in the neighborhood whose kids have played on that field. But a vibrant outdoor space is very much part of the vision for Mahoney, and I'm personally very excited about the potential to do some really fun and cool and unique things there that the community wants to see. The Mahoney City Center Committee looks forward to engaging with the community as together we envision what the outdoor spaces can be!" - Communications Officer Shara Dee

Voters will determine if the Mahoney and Public Safety Facilities Renovation project goes forward at a Referendum Vote tentative planned for November 2026. To learn more about the project, visit www.southportland.gov/mahoney.