The Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office is undergoing a major remodeling project covering 20,874 square feet. More than 9,000 square feet of this space had remained unused since the opening of the Rockwall County Detention Center in 2022. Sheriff Terry Garrett commented, “This project will allow for expansion and improvements within our current building footprint, making it a more cost-effective option compared to constructing a new building.”
The renovation is structured in three phases so that daily operations can continue during construction. The project is currently under budget but behind schedule due to unexpected issues encountered during demolition of the former jail area. Commissioner John Stacy expects Phase 1 to finish by February and suggested that starting Phase 2 before the first phase ends could improve efficiency.
Phase 1 focuses on expanding evidence storage, creating a new workout area with locker rooms, increasing administrative capacity, and adding dedicated space for the Office of Emergency Management. The building’s generator is also being updated to provide power for the entire facility during emergencies.
Procurement activities are ongoing throughout Phase 1, including sourcing raw materials, equipment, skilled labor, and subcontractor services to keep the project on track financially and ensure quality results.
During Phase 2, dispatch services will move temporarily while new office spaces for detectives and interview rooms are constructed. The county is coordinating with North Central Texas 9-1-1 to maintain uninterrupted emergency services during this period.
Phase 3 will see dispatch operations relocate to a new operations center. This phase also includes technology upgrades such as moving servers and related equipment into a centralized location to create additional usable space within the building.
Funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) along with remaining Jail Bond funds. This approach allows Rockwall County to avoid extra financing or tax increases.
Commissioner John Stacy highlighted the need for improved public safety facilities: “The growth of this county is evident all around us. It is essential to have the public safety infrastructure in place.”
Rockwall County has experienced changes in its school population as well. During the 2023-24 school year, at-risk student numbers increased by 3.4%, totaling 7,777 students according to data from the Texas Education Agency. In that same year, Rockwall County schools ranked as having the forty-eighth highest number of at-risk students among Texas counties (source). Demographic data show that white students were the largest group in local schools at 51.7% (12,123 students), followed by Hispanic students at 26.3% (6,172 students) (source).
