Politics & Government
Public Discussion on New Police Station, Town Hall, Senior Center Coming Soon
There will also be a presentation on potential re-use of the current town hall and police department facilities.
Dedham residents eager for a new Dedham senior center, town hall and police station, will have their opportunity to discuss a proposal to site those three entities at the Rustcraft building.
On Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., the Dedham Board of Selectmen have scheduled a meeting at the Dedham Middle School, 170 Whiting Ave., to "discuss the opportunity for the Town to acquire property on Rustcraft Road for the purposes of location a Police Station, Town Hall and a Senior Center."
Voices have been heard at town hall about residents wanting a new senior center, and the police department is also eager to get a new facility.
"This building has a laundry list of issues. It’s functionally inadequate," said Dedham Police Chief Michael D’Entremont to Patch. "We don’t have the space we need. We don’t have the facility to provide the proper security. Our booking area leaves a little to be desired. We have vehicles parked all over the place. They should be in a secure paring lot. There’s no female locker room, no handicapped access to the second floor."
D’Entremont said the department doesn't have a training room, which impacts training because personnel need to leave Dedham to get extra training instead of bringing trainers into the facility keeping officers in the community. He said having a live firing range would be good instead of having to leave the community.
He stressed the female locker room several times which is a couple of lockers in an office where to members of the department work. Lockers are scattered throughout the department's current facility, with one outdated male locker room, but all lockers cannot fit in that area. D'Entremont said an updated locker room with recharging stations for flashlights and radios would be very helpful.
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The interview room, as well as the space where the breathalyzer is located, double as office spaces, so you may have someone eating a sandwich while an OUI suspect comes in.
No doubt members of the Dedham Police Department will be at the October 3 meeting.
Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
As well as a presentation regarding the Rustcraft Road building, a presentation on a study conducted on potential re-use of the existing town hall and police stations will be given.
Residents will be given the chance to review the proposed building and ask questions.
"We’re very excited about the prospect about digging in and putting a new facility together," said D'Entremont. "I’m crossing my fingers it comes through."
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