New Police Facility Project

Danville Police Department

When the current Kimball Safety Complex was constructed and opened in 1988, the Police Department was only supposed to be housed there for seven years until a new larger police station was built.  Thirty years later, the Police Department is still working out of the same four small rooms that were allocated for use within the building.
The Police Department can no longer effectively and safely operate at the current facility.  Although there have been discussions in the past and committees formed to assist in the planning of a new building, this is the first report that will provide detailed information to the public regarding our current facility and considerations as we move forward.  Building a new police station is of course an expensive and complicated endeavor that will need full public support to be successful.  In order to gain support, the public must first understand why this project is so important.  Accordingly, we have compiled a list of critical concerns and shortcomings with our current facility.

Very truly yours,
Wade H. Parsons
Chief of Police


CURRENT POLICE FACILITY SHORTCOMINGS & NEEDS 

1.      Garage Bays
Current: There is currently one bay accessible to the Police Department located at the rear of the Kimball Safety Complex. This leads to a common area shared by the Fire Department. It is projected as the Fire Department expands, we will lose our parking spot in the bay and all police vehicles will have to be stored outdoors.
Needed: It is anticipated that three bays are needed for: 1) Forensic Seizures (vehicles used in crimes), 2) Storage and maintenance of our OHRV, motorcycle and cruiser maintenance, 3) Sally port for unloading arrests in a secure area for both prisoner and officer safety.

2.      Impound Yard
Current: There is no impound yard
Needed: An impound yard is needed to: 1) hold vehicles that have been used in crimes, including fatal and serious personal injury accidents that require processing, 2) hold other impounded property, including bicycles, etc.

3.      Training Room/Conference Room
Current: There is no Training Room or Conference Room
Needed: An area is needed for departmental trainings and department meetings. Currently, the department uses the booking area for meetings. This area does not allow seating for everyone and is not conducive to meetings or training sessions

4.      Booking Room/Holding Cells
Current: The current prisoner booking room is not a secure room. It gives unruly and combative prisoners access to the administrative areas and potentially to the rest of the PD. The room is not physically conducive to officer safety and it does not flow with proper and correct prisoner handling methods. There are no holding cells to detain violent offenders or prisoners for short-term periods. Also, by law a separate area to hold juveniles is needed since sight and sound separation is required.
Needed: A secure booking area is needed to process detainees. At least two adult cells and one separate holding cell for juveniles is needed.

5.      Foyer/Lobby
Current: There current foyer/lobby is very small and there is no place to sit. If more than one visitor comes in at the same time, they are bumping into each other. There are also not enough rooms for forms and literature.
Needed: A larger lobby area is needed so that multiple visitors are able to sit comfortably. The lobby should also provide an area for visitors to fill out forms.

6.      Breakroom/Kitchen
Current: There is no kitchen and no separate area for employees to eat meals. The refrigerator and microwave are in the booking area, which makes the area cramped.
Needed: A separate room is needed with a sink and a table and chairs for employees to eat meals.

7.      Restrooms
Current: There is one generic restroom. This one bathroom is used by police department members, fire department members, civilians, and arrestees.
Needed: Separate men and women restrooms.

8.      Parking Lot
Current: The current parking lot is not well defined. When the Town Hall is open for business and meetings, the parking lot can become cluttered with vehicles, making it difficult for traffic to enter and exit. Parking is cramped and potentially hazardous.
Needed: A larger area is needed for employee and visitor parking. This area should also be well lit at night and provide a secure area for employee parking.

9.      Storage Areas
Current: There is one storage closet in the building. This closet is approximately 8’ x 4’ in diameter and is full. Because this is the only storage closet, office supplies and miscellaneous equipment are stored throughout the building in random areas.
Needed: Additional space is needed to organize and store uniforms, equipment, and office and computer supplies.

10.  Officers’ Report Room
Current: The current officers’ room is 13’ x 8’ and is extremely cramped. It is the administrative area for 4 full-time and 1 part-time officer. It also houses all the department forms, employee bulletin boards, roll call information, and is the main area for information exchange and interviews.
Needed: Additional office space is needed to provide workstations for officers to write reports and conduct private interviews.

11.  Records
Current: Department records are stored in file cabinets in the front office area, as well as in outside storage. Archived records, which must be kept in perpetuity by New Hampshire statues, are not easily accessed.
Needed: A clean and dry storage area that is easily accessible for proper record retention.

12.  Locker Room
Current: There is no locker room.
Needed: Separate male and female locker rooms are needed for our officers.

13.  Interview Room
Currently: There is no interview room
Needed: An Interview Room is needed for private conversations ranging from domestic violence issues, assaults, criminal investigations, etc.

14.  Supervisors Office
Current: There is no Supervisors Office
Needed: A Supervisors Office is needed so that supervisors can conduct performance appraisals and have personal conversations with their subordinates.

15.  Detectives Office
Current: There is no Detectives Office
Needed A Detectives Office is needed to provide a private room to handle confidential and case sensitive investigations.

16.  Crime Scene Evidence Processing Room
Current: There is a 9’ x 4’ Evidence Storage Room only, which is filled.
Needed: A Crime Scene Evidence Processing Room is needed to process prints, casting, photographs, etc.

17.  Exercise/Training Area
Current: There is no Exercise/Training area
Needed: The State of New Hampshire has an ongoing requirement for police officers to pass a physical fitness test. An exercise and physical training room would help officers to stay in compliance with the state.