PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department has begun relocating its bureaus to a newly renovated headquarters at 100 West Washington Street.
According to a Wednesday announcement from the city, the department’s communications bureau, which is responsible for answering 911 calls and dispatch operations, is the first fully operational group to make the move.
“These dedicated members of our department are the calm voices in our moments of crisis,” Acting Chief Dennis Orender said in the announcement. “When the community calls, they’re answering.”
The communications bureau now occupies a three-floor facility with approximately 14,000 square feet per floor and is equipped with upgraded systems that support a modern, high-tech working environment. It’s within the department’s new 27-story headquarters at 100 West Washington Street in downtown Phoenix.
“This is a moment of immense pride for our department,” Orender said. “This workspace reflects our operators’ and dispatchers’ professionalism and their dedication.”
Why is Phoenix police communications bureau moving to new location?
The newly renovated, 500,000-square-foot headquarters at 100 West Washington Street in downtown Phoenix has been a long time coming.
The city bought the building, which was formerly known as Wells Fargo Plaza, for $46.5 million in 2021. Renovations started in 2023.
Officials decided to shift away from the old Phoenix Police base on Washington Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues due to its aging infrastructure and small size.
The old headquarters, which sit a few blocks west of the new facility, opened in 1975, when Phoenix’s population was less than half of what it is now.
Communications Bureau Administrator Allie Edwards called the move to Phoenix police headquarters a key milestone in the department’s years-long effort to transform a former bank tower into its central hub.
“Our new center is equipped with updated emergency communications software, ensuring that we can handle emergencies with greater efficiency and reliability,” Edwards said. “This technology is a cornerstone of our operations, enabling us to respond swiftly and effectively to the 2.2 million calls we receive each year.”
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