This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, February 6th, 2025.

Later in the program, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson hosted a town hall about relocating the police headquarters on Monday. More in today’s headlines.

Also coming up in the next half hour, we hear Part Two of an interview with Tracey Hutchings-Goetz, from Hoosier Action, a statewide grassroots organization working to stop a Senate Bill that would impact Medicaid coverage.

But first, your local headlines:

Mayor Hosts Town Hall About Police Headquarters

On Monday, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson held a town hall at Summit Elementary about relocating the police department headquarters to 714 South Rogers Street.

City officials made the case for relocating police to the new site while some residents expressed concerns about increased traffic and noise from the proposed site for the police station near a residential neighborhood.

Mayor Thomson said that the last administration intended for the police to move into the Showers West building. However, she says that move would only have been temporary. Thomson says she’s looking for something more permanent.

According to a city news release, expanding the current headquarters would require purchasing more land. It would also force the city to temporarily relocate police headquarters during renovation.

Furthermore, the news release said that the current police building is in poor condition, citing issues such as “flood damage and ongoing water filtration.”

Chief of the Bloomington Police Department Mike Diekhoff said the police union and the mayor are supportive of this move.

A concerned resident asked about the city’s previous discussions for the building on South Rogers to be used as an arts incubator. Thomson said that the city will likely look for another location for an arts space.

One resident named Eavy said she also doesn’t want to see a police station in a residential neighborhood – especially one near so many social services.

WFHB News spoke with one local resident who said they are not supportive of the initiative of relocating the police headquarters to South Rogers.

If the city does go ahead and pursue a relocation, this local resident says they hope the police department stays out of residential neighborhoods. In their view, the current location of police headquarters is ideal.

Another resident said they have concerns about the relocation of South Rogers and expressed that this wouldn’t make them feel safer.

The full town hall is available online at catstv.net.

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