WALPOLE, N.H. – At a recent town meeting on Aug. 17, voters narrowly rejected a proposal that would have had the Town of Walpole applying for a bond of up to $3 million to build a long-discussed new police station on Upper Walpole Road. The plan would be for construction to begin sometime in 2028, and the town had already been awarded $2 million in federal funding to assist with the project.
The proposed design is an estimated 7,000 square-foot, one-floor building containing two secured, public-access rooms, department staff rooms, storage and evidence rooms, and secured holding spaces. The building would be a tremendous update to the current location on Russell Street in North Walpole.
At the meeting, Walpole Chief of Police Justin Santuary stated that when the original police station was constructed some 30 years ago, it was already undersized and essentially built for one full-time police officer and a few part-time officers. Today, Walpole employs six officers, including Santuary, and the need for a new, larger building seems apparent.
Santuary also explained that the plans not only represent what the department feels is an obvious need for expansion, but that, as the community needs will continue to grow, the proposed plans also try to account for that continued growth over the next 30 years and beyond.
The decision to reject the proposal came down to a single vote, as the final tally fell one vote shy of the three-fifths majority required to approve the bond acquisition, a decision that did not sit well with multiple Walpole town officials.
One of the main concerns expressed in the meeting was the feeling that the overall cost of the project, an estimated $5 to 5.5 million, was too high for the needs of a smaller town such as Walpole. It was also suggested that, because the community includes an aging population with minimal crime, there is not a glaring need for the town to take on such an expense.
Another concern from the community revolved around the increased overall cost to efficiently operate and maintain a larger facility on an annual basis.
On the opposite side of the issue, one Walpole resident expressed that, despite Walpole being a “small town,” its officers are often asked to expand their services beyond the town limits, including assisting with situations on nearby Route 12 and Interstate 91, as well as neighboring local towns such Alstead, Bellows Falls, and Westmoreland.
Another selling point for the new police station is the simple reality of populations and communities growing and developing. As communities expand, their police and fire departments also need room for growth.
The original building design represented a $7 million construction cost, which was rejected, before the current redesign of up to $5.5 million was presented and also rejected. It is now expected that a likely identical proposal will again be put before the town selectboard at the first opportunity, in March 2027.