Time to retire our tired, worn-out Police Station

Posted 7/24/16

To the editor:

Fellow townspeople:

The current Police Station was built in 1975 for about $175,000 to house 21 full-time police officers when the only electronic devices in the building were a …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Time to retire our tired, worn-out Police Station

Posted

To the editor:

Fellow townspeople:

The current Police Station was built in 1975 for about $175,000 to house 21 full-time police officers when the only electronic devices in the building were a radio and an electronic clock.

Over the next 25 years, policing changed and, with the turn of the century, we increased our force by 50 percent, 911 dispatch was introduced, and we started an electronic records management system with two computer terminals. The 9/11 terrorist attack and anthrax scares changed policing forever. These events forced us to put up walls separating our dispatch from the public, isolating us from the public and further cramping conditions.

Fast forward to 2016 — 41 years after this station was built, there is a computer on every desk (some two computers), 911 dispatchers have changed to emergency medical dispatchers, and every crime has some level of electronic devise attached to it. The building that was built 41 years ago and used 24 hours a day and seven days a week owes us nothing. It has served the purpose it was designed for and it is tired, worn and ready to retire.

Over the past 14 years, I have done my job as chief of making the woefully outdated building work despite the cramped conditions. My frugal, thrifty nature made it palatable. But now the life, health and safety hazards are too great to just be ignored. If I ignored them at this point I would not be doing my job as chief. We have to do something.

In order to help decide what that something is, at the Board of Selectmen’s direction, we hired an architectural firm to conduct a feasibility study to identify the building deficiencies and explore possible solutions and costs associated with providing the citizenry with a police facility that meets their needs.

I have attached a copy of the study and both of my Town Meeting presentations to www.westport-ma.com/police.department and on our Facebook page, ‘Westport Police Department.’ Also look for my 10-minute presentation on our local cable access channel and online at vimeo.com/westportcommunitytv

We need to act. Ultimately, the Police Station is a town-owned building — it belongs to you and ultimately you will decide what its fate will be. As your police chief, on August 2 I am asking you to reaffirm the vote that was taken at this year;s annual Town Meeting to borrow by debt exclusion, not to exceed a limit of $8 million, for a proposed new police station. The average annual tax impact over the course of the bond would be $33.87 for a house with a $200,000 evaluation, $53.35 for $300,000, and $64.66 for $400,000. This would allow the community to have a safe, secure and efficient police facility for today and years to come.

If we do nothing, we risk the building needing to be under an emergency evacuation, like our neighboring Dartmouth P.D., risk legal action from ADA discrimination claims, employee unsafe working conditions, and detainees’ civul rights or wrongful death claims. We will need to purchase or rent trailers to replace lost space in the basement for records, evidence and office space (wasted money). We will not be able to provide you the service you deserve from a professional police department.

Thank you for helping the Police Department serve you better.

Keith A. Pelletier

Westport Chief of Police

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.