After an overwhelming number of Bettendorf voters said “yes” to a $27 million referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 4, city leaders said they are ready to get to work to make the new police station off Devil’s Glen Road a reality.
Unofficial results released after Tuesday’s special election showed the bond referendum winning the support of 73.7% of Bettendorf residents who voted on the question. That’s well more than the 60% of “yes” votes required for passage of the 20-year bond issue.
In all, unofficial results said 5,474 voters said “yes” and 1,958 voted “no” during balloting that followed a comprehensive city-driven campaign. It included tours of the existing, cramped 1959 station, project presentations and forums by the police and community leaders.
The proposed project also got a big boost from an April community survey conducted for the city. That survey showed initial strong support for a new station. It later led the Bettendorf City Council on Aug. 19 to approve Tuesday’s Special City Election which asked voters to allow the city to spend up to $27 million to construct, equip, and furnish a new facility for its police force.
Now, with that funding secured, city project leaders say construction on the new station could begin in fall of 2026, and be completed by the end of 2027.
At 38,000 square feet, the new headquarters will more than double the size of the current 1609 State St. location in a building it shares with city hall.
Leaders say ‘thanks’
That new station also will be on city-owned property off Devils Glen and Crow Creek roads near the Bettendorf Public Works Annex. The area is at the geographic center of a growing city which will help officers better serve the needs of citizens, supporters said.
“The City of Bettendorf is grateful to its residents for their support of this project,” city and the Bettendorf Police Department leaders said in a joint statement. “Thank you to those who attended our public informational meetings, toured the police station, and informed themselves before making this important vote.”
Those leaders also pledged that “Now, it’s time to get to work and build a police station that provides this community with the service it deserves and expects.”
The statement also promised that the city will remain transparent throughout the building process. It urged voters to police them by going here to follow it along the way.
That includes during the next step in the building project: working with Bray Architects and Estes Construction to complete the building’s design in preparation for a 2026 groundbreaking.
