Chief Holste explains that the amount of fentanyl needed to kill an adult man fits on Lincoln's nose on the penny. The evidence intake/processing room lacks adequate ventilation for safety and is one of the biggest improvement needs for the department.
Holste explains that there are three parking spaces, but the concrete wall means there is only room for one to back out, and that takes some finesse. Holste worries about pedestrians, and especially children, who use the above sidewalk and might not be visible to officers backing up their rigs. Because the lot is on a steep slope, Holste said officers cannot use the lot in the winter, as ice makes it impossible to back out.
Chief Holste stands in a makeshift break room/interview room that has seen multiple flooding. The neighboring storage room stands empty because of black mold. The room's couch, not pictured, was given to the station after an unattended death at an assisted living center.
Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste stands in the current evidence processing room, in front of its donated lockers.
Trisha Walker photo
Chief Holste explains that the amount of fentanyl needed to kill an adult man fits on Lincoln's nose on the penny. The evidence intake/processing room lacks adequate ventilation for safety and is one of the biggest improvement needs for the department.
Trisha Walker photo
Holste explains that there are three parking spaces, but the concrete wall means there is only room for one to back out, and that takes some finesse. Holste worries about pedestrians, and especially children, who use the above sidewalk and might not be visible to officers backing up their rigs. Because the lot is on a steep slope, Holste said officers cannot use the lot in the winter, as ice makes it impossible to back out.
Trisha Walker photo
The bathroom includes a sink and a toilet held up by a 2x4.
Trisha Walker photo
The bathroom also includes a showerhead. Only one person can use the bathroom at a time.
Trisha Walker photo
The tour included a look at the station's breakroom, which is down to subflooring due to numerous floods. Black mold is also a problem.
Trisha Walker photo
Chief Holste stands in a makeshift break room/interview room that has seen multiple flooding. The neighboring storage room stands empty because of black mold. The room's couch, not pictured, was given to the station after an unattended death at an assisted living center.
Trisha Walker photo
Chief Holste's office is a small room.
Trisha Walker photo
This room has a number of cubicles, which officers use to write up their reports. Each is the size of a small desk.
HOOD RIVER — The City of Hood River hosted an open house Oct. 22, in which constituents could tour its police station ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election. The facility has black mold from repeated flooding, poor ventilation, inadequate evidence processing and storage space, no meeting or training rooms, and is not seismically sound.
On the ballot is Measure 14-86, the passage of which would authorize a new property tax to upgrade the police department, including a secure, private space for interviews, seismic stability to effectively respond during a disaster, and security and safety systems to protect officers and visitors (cityofhoodriver.gov).
Officers moved into the basement of city hall in 2010, expecting to be there no more than five years. Now in year 16, the department is looking at a remodel that would include seismic upgrades to the entire building, which is more than 100 years old — and was once the fire station.
With that history comes several challenges, such as inadequate ventilation, insufficient evidence processing and storage space, and the lack of meeting and training rooms.
Because the state provides grants for seismic improvements to first responder and essential facilities, the remodel is an opportunity to bring the building up to seismic standards at the same time; the second-floor addition is part of that “shoring up.”
In addition to not having dedicated space for interviewing suspects or victims, there is also no ventilation, which makes it difficult to safely handle dangerous substances like fentanyl. There is also no evidence processing area or training space. Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste led tours of the station beneath city hall Oct. 22. On the Nov. 3 General Election ballot is Measure 14-86, which would authorize a property tax to upgrade the department, and the tours gave residents a first-hand look at the challenges within the century-old former fire station.
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