City of Kyle breaks ground on Public Safety Center

Ten months after the passage of a voter-approved bond, the City of Kyle saw the groundbreaking of its highly anticipated Public Safety Center on Friday.

The city’s population has multiplied seven times over since the 2000 Census from 5,000 citizens to just over 52,300 in 2020, according to Kyle Economic Development. To accommodate, the 64,000-square-foot, two-story building will fully staff the police department and serve residents' public safety needs for at least the next 20 years.

“Kyle is predicted to be in the fastest growing county in Texas for the next 30 years,” Council Member Rick Koch said. “Kyle is growing fast — faster than we care to admit or want to admit sometimes. Our once 5,000 residents are now an almost bustling 60,000, seemingly overnight.”

The new center will enable the police department to provide improved community services such as better emergency response times; increased officer training and recruitment; expanded mental health services; accommodation for victims or residents experiencing trauma as a result of crime.

“This facility will allow our staff to conduct their job, perform their duties, and serve their community in a great way,” Police Chief Jeff Barnett said. “It will al low us to interact with the citizens, improve our services, and serve you better.”

Above, Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett reflects on how the Public Safety Center will help improve community services during a ceremony Friday. Daily Record photo by Nathalie Cohetero

In addition, the facility will house an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). An EOC will establish a central command station and allow for collaboration with surrounding counties and authorities during critical times, according to city officials.

Kyle voters passed the Proposition A bond in the Nov. 2020 election, enabling the city to build the $37-million Public Safety Center. Funding included the design, construction and equipping of the new center.

Construction is expected to take about 14 months and is scheduled to open in 2022.

“In the face of unprecedented growth, Kyle can ei ther lead, follow or get run over by the future,” Koch said. “At this moment, Kyle, Texas, is choosing to lead.”