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  • SUN FILE PHOTO Two city committees are preparing recommendations for a new Public Safety Center to replace the existing Edmond Police station. Space is a continuing issue at the station, including the booking area adjacent to the jail cells, pictured above, in which only one arrestee can be booked at a time because of the room's small size.

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Discussion

July 20, 2010

City panel to review other safety centers

Mark Schlachtenhaufen The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — An Edmond committee preparing to make recommendations for a new Public Safety Center will review facilities in comparably-sized cities.

Crime trends and potential cost-saving actions were among the issues discussed Tuesday by a subcommittee reviewing the scope and scale of a  hoped-for new and larger center that would house the city’s police and communications departments.

In 2008, Edmond voters defeated a property tax that would have funded a new $31.4 million, 83,000-square-foot facility at Main and Kelly. Land the city purchased for $435,000 recently on the southwest corner of Littler and Hurd is being considered for the facility.

A 2005 needs assessment study revealed that Edmond’s downtown police station is outmoded due to its limited space and configuration. The existing facility at 23 E. First St. is not safe for those arrested, visitors or staff, city officials have said.

City Council member and subcommittee chairwoman Elizabeth Waner said the panel was charged with making a recommendation that would have a better opportunity for meeting voter approval. Waner said the panel needs to have a confidence factor in its recommendation.

Steve Commons, Edmond’s assistant city manager of administration, suggested that as part of the process the panel review what other similarly-sized cities have done. The information would be good for comparison’s sake, and would be another source of data, Commons said.

It appeared the panel would review about 10 other cities.

Waner also tossed some cost-saving ideas into the conversation such as doing video arraignments and barcoding evidence. Edmond Police Maj. Steve Thompson said the only thing prohibiting the police department from doing the barcoding now is a printer quality issue.

The subcommittee also discussed city crime trends and the effects of the number of sworn police officers.

Edmond enjoys a reputation of being one of the best places to live in the country. Family Circle magazine ranked Edmond No. 1 on its list of the 10 best towns for families in 2010. CNN Money ranked Edmond 35th in its 2010 list of America’s best places to live.

The city also has been rated as one of the safest in the nation.

Still, Edmond Police Chief Bob Ricks has voiced concerns related to falling behind due to budgetary and staffing issues.

With the addition of nine new police officers, the first graduates of Edmond’s inaugural in-house police academy, enforcement is up, Ricks said. The city also prides itself on being proactive when it comes to fighting crime, he said.

Just what a police department is able to accomplish depends on the type of community citizens want to have, Ricks said.

The subcommittee, which also reviewed two reports about the new Public Safety Center, will meet again on Aug. 10, when brainstorming will be part of the agenda.



marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108

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