New Braunfels’ gleaming new police headquarters was supposed to be a once-in-a-generation investment. Instead, just a couple of years after move-in, the 65,000-square-foot complex is getting the kind of scrutiny usually reserved for aging buildings with long-deferred maintenance.
After repeated reports of roof leaks, pavement starting to lift and water finding its way into electrical conduits, the city has ordered a full, independent structural analysis of the police headquarters. City staff say sewer breaks, which they link to ground swelling, have added urgency to the review.
According to a presentation to the City Council from the City of New Braunfels, an outside structural engineer has been hired to complete a top-to-bottom assessment of the facility at 3030 W. San Antonio St., which was substantially finished in July 2022. The study is expected to wrap up in October. Deputy City Manager Jordan Matney told council members that staff will send quarterly updates, while Joeris General Contractors continues monthly on-site meetings with the city’s transportation construction services team.
Voters signed off on the project in 2019 under Proposition 3, which earmarked $50,414,750 for public-safety facilities. Bond materials from the City of New Braunfels put the police headquarters and its Veterans Memorial at roughly $36.3 million. The building was designed to pull together previously scattered police operations and includes office space, a training room, vehicle maintenance bays and evidence storage.
Problems logged since move-in
The paper trail of problems started early. The city’s meeting packet notes that 193 warranty items were logged during the project’s one-year warranty period, with door adjustments, fencing, roofing and HVAC issues among the most common.
According to staff, the headaches did not stop when the warranty clock ran out. Roof leaks, pavement heave, shifting fence panels and water getting into electrical conduits continued after the warranty expired. Sewer lines reportedly failed in September 2025 and again in July 2026, problems the city links to ground swelling as it works to nail down the root cause, per the city’s July 13 packet.
Contractor response and next steps
Joeris General Contractors, the builder on the project, prominently features the New Braunfels Police Headquarters and Veterans Memorial in its municipal portfolio. According to reporting from Community Impact, Joeris returned to the site in 2025 to work on roof leaks and brought in a new roofing subcontractor.
City officials say the independent engineer’s report will determine who is ultimately on the hook for fixes, whether that is the contractor, the design team or the city itself. For now, everyone is waiting on the engineering findings before pointing fingers in any official way.
Council members press for accountability
The situation has clearly tested the patience of some on the dais. During the July council discussion, District 6 Council member Nikki Shaw said she found three dehumidifiers running in the armory and warned that humidity “can cause rust and misfiring.” Police Chief Osbaldo Flores responded that armory issues had not been brought to his attention but said conditions would be monitored and equipment moved if needed.
District 3 Council member D. Lee Edwards was more blunt, questioning how far the city can go in holding engineers and designers accountable for what he called “a real cluster,” comments reported by Community Impact.
City staff say the engineer’s findings will be made public once the review is complete. At that point, council will weigh next steps, which could include repairs, warranty claims or even legal action. Residents and elected officials alike are watching closely to see if taxpayers will be asked to put more money into a building they already expected to last for decades.
