To the editor:

The question as to whether or not Bainbridge needs a new police station has surfaced, again.

Bainbridge Island not only needs a new police station, but the sooner the better. All police stations are classified as Critical Structures by FEMA and are required to have such emergency facilities as power generation and communication capabilities, as they must operate 24/7.

But our station is presently housed in a ’50s era, unreinforced, two-level cinderblock structure located rather close to the Seattle Fault line. Since a portion of the building is below grade, it will be asymmetrically loaded in a seismic event, and thus carries an even greater risk of failure, beyond being several structural code revisions out of date. We can’t afford to have a police department that is not fully operational at all times.

The existing building was never designed for its present occupancy. For instance, the only conference room is located below grade at the end of a dead end, unrated corridor that is too narrow for the required fire exit width. This windowless room requires two exits by code, but only one is provided. The building is not fire sprinkled and the HVAC system is totally inadequate providing less than the required air changes per hour.

Some functions are performed under what can only be described as ludicrous and even potentially dangerous conditions. The process of fingerprinting is carried out in a public hallway near the two restrooms in the main entry. Officers are often forced to meet with citizens discussing confidential matters in this same public hallway. The restrooms are not in conformance with accessibility standards, and there is no elevator to provide accessibility between levels.

A person in custody, being brought into the station, passes through spaces filled with everything from office supplies to loose chairs, and everything else the department needs to operate. This makes it possible for a volatile arrest situation to turn bad in just a few seconds. A typical police station would include a reasonable number of offices and meeting rooms, a continuing education/training room, a workout room, a lunch/break room, etc., and these are just the basics, not luxuries. In the current building, these basics simply don’t exist.

The Growth Management Act assures us that more residents are coming to the island, and our BIPD must be able to accommodate that growth. The city of Bainbridge Island has retained a consultant who has programmed more than 200 police facilities across the U.S. We are hopeful that their planning for our new station is sized appropriately and includes an allowance for that future growth.

In less than four years, Chief Matthew Hamner has done a remarkable job in rebuilding the Bainbridge Police Department. Let’s give him the support and the facility he needs to keep us, and all of our police officers, safe.

DAVID LINDSEY, SUE LINDSEY

Bainbridge Island

P.S. The location adjoining the recently razed fire station on Highway 305 is clearly the best location for the new police facility.