JONESBORO, Ark. — Construction on Jonesboro’s new $5.9 million E-911 Real Time Crime Center is progressing on schedule, with city officials projecting an August 2027 completion date.
The facility, located at 301 W. Monroe Avenue, broke ground in early July. Two of its exterior walls are already in place, according to Mayor Harold Copenhaver, who credited cooperative weather and dry conditions for the steady progress. The center’s walls will be reinforced with concrete, enabling the building to double as a storm shelter.
“This new facility addresses multiple needs for Jonesboro, from unifying 911 services under one roof to providing a secure site during severe weather,” Copenhaver explained.
The structure has been elevated several feet above the natural floodplain to prevent the flooding issues the site previously experienced. Historically, the area—formerly a parking lot—has been prone to water accumulation during periods of heavy rainfall.
“For many years, we’ve had issues of flooding when we have heavy rain potentials in Jonesboro,” Copenhaver said. “Some of that occurs right here. So, with this new facility, you can see that we’ve raised the facility above that floodplain concern.”
Currently, Craighead County’s 911 dispatch services operate from the Justice Complex across the street, with some Jonesboro Police Department officers working out of the police station to the south of the new site. Both existing buildings are slated for demolition after the new E-911 center becomes operational.
Once the old facilities are cleared, Copenhaver noted, the area could be revitalized. He pointed to other recent efforts to redevelop downtown spaces, such as transforming the former Citizens Bank building site into a green space, as examples of what could follow.
“It’s just like what people thought about the Citizens Bank building when it came down,” he said. “It is a nice green space area. So, after these facilities are cleaned up, then we’ll have a nice area, and then, hopefully, good things will happen in the future.”
The Real Time Crime Center will be equipped to handle major emergencies, including severe weather events, and will bring all 911 operations under one roof to improve coordination. City officials initially anticipated opening the center in winter 2027 but now expect the project to be complete next August.
The city has not yet announced specific plans for the space to be left behind once the Justice Complex and police station are demolished.