Library history reflected in exhibit

High Times for the alcoholic agent 007

By Nikie Johnson
Daily Cougar Staff

The UH Police Department got a nice Valentine's Day present this year -- a new building.

Although the move into the new station, located at the corner of Wheeler and Scott streets, is complete, Sgt. Russell Lyman said everything is still in boxes. Lyman said the building is currently set up for emergency functions, but all police operations should be up and running there soon.

Construction of the 14,000-square-foot facility was approved last February in order to alleviate overcrowding and deterioration at UHPD's old building, which was completed in 1963.

The new building, of buff-colored brick with a red metal roof, has ample room for UHPD's 61 commissioned officers, staff members and Cougar Patrol volunteers. It consists of two main sections: the holding cells and booking room, and the administrative section.

Two holding cells are reserved for juveniles and three are reserved for adults. Each cell is about 5 by 7 feet with cinder-block walls, a bench with rings to chain handcuffs to, and a drain.

"It's nice, because when the prisoner is gone, we can just hose down the cell and it's clean," said Sgt. Travis Curtner.

The administrative side features well-furnished, comfortable work spaces for the officers. "The lieutenants have bigger offices than the sergeants -- but I'm not bitter," Curtner said.

The officers' favorite feature of the new building is that they get their own locker rooms. In the old building, officers, staff and prisoners all shared rest room facilities. The officers now have showers, too.

"We work long hours here," Curtner said. "It's really nice that you can come back here on your break and freshen up."

Officers also said they appreciate the building's large break room, with a refrigerator, snack machine and ice maker.