The Oxford Police Department is expected to be operating from its new building on Industrial Park Drive in December.

Director of Special Projects Mark Levy said OPD should be all moved in by Dec. 12, leaving the current OPD building empty.

“We are in the design and development phase of that building,” Levy said Tuesday at the Oxford Board of Aldermen meeting.

At Levy’s request, the Board approved his request to advertise for bids for the renovation/remodel of the current OPD building.

“We’d like to start this renovation project in January, Levy said.

In 2021, the Oxford Board of Aldermen approved a plan to turn the former Oxford Enterprise Center into a new police headquarters to help accommodate the rapid growth of the department.

The current OPD building will be turned into office space for the Oxford Park Commission and other city offices.

The new, $12 million OPD building is 40,000 square feet and features a large dispatch area, dedicated spaces for victim services, including a conference room and playroom for children, a training building, and a coffee shop-styled patrol area with flexible workstations.

The state Legislature granted Oxford about $6 million in grants for the building. OPD also received a $200,000 federal grant for equipment. The city is paying the remaining costs using a bond.