Ben Godar
Though its construction has been delayed by almost a year, Glendale
Police officials say the new police headquarters will be a
state-of-the-art facility that will provide better service to the
public and help them recruit and retain officers.
With more than double the space of the current headquarters, the
4-story, 160,000-square-foot building will improve day-to-day
operations and offer a higher level of security, said Capt. Jim
Swinford, who is overseeing construction for the Police Department.
A color palette primarily of tans and greens, plus numerous
windows and a third-floor atrium and skylight also make the new
building much brighter and open than the present facility.
"It's a more positive atmosphere that will provide a higher morale
for our officers," Swinford said. "We're always looking for ways to
retain quality people, and hopefully this will be a good recruiting
tool."
Improved security begins when the public enters the building from
the main door on Isabel Street. Visitors must pass through a
combination revolving door/metal detector that will automatically
reverse if metal objects are detected. Inside, the main-lobby and
front-desk walls and glass are made from bulletproof material.
Designers sought to improve the building's efficiency as well.
Windows for the traffic department, records and stolen property are
all located off the main lobby. The floors have also been separated
by function, with patrol and operations on the second floor,
detectives on the third and administration on the fourth.
In the basement is the 48-cell, 96-bed jail. Although the jail
provides nearly double the capacity of the current clink, Swinford
said the department would not rent out space initially because it
lacks the staffing to do so. The gray concrete and red steel facility
features a variety of innovations designed to keep guards and
prisoners safe, including a series of mantraps. The sophisticated,
glass-walled command center allows the jailer to see every door
directly and via video.
Among the other technical innovations are advanced intercom and
pneumatic-tube systems. Doors are opened with an electronic key-card
system that records who accesses which areas. Unlike at the old
facility, everything from storage lockers to the lineup room is
equipped with electrical outlets and data ports.
Police spokesman Sgt. Kirk Palmer said the new facility would make
all of the officers feel better about their jobs and the organization
itself.
"For those of us who have been here 10 to 15 years, it will be a
tremendous boost to have a new facility like this."
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THE 411 ON THE POLICE HQ:
Construction of the Glendale Police Department headquarters
required:
* 18,000 cubic yards of concrete.
* More than 3-million pounds of steel.
* Enough wire to wrap the globe 50 times.
* 67 sub-contractors.
* More than 100 suppliers and vendors.
