Smyrna goes to the polls today in a non-binding referendum that asks if the town would approve a slight tax increase to build a much needed expansion of the Smyrna Police Station.It will be interesting to see if Smyrna approves this non-binding referendum so close after another tax hike. From the News Journal article, a bigger police station is needed.
Years ago, the police department and its staff — 29 full-time officers and 14 part-timers — outgrew the current station, which is woefully out of code and meant to accommodate only 15 officers, officials say.
The station has not been renovated or built upon since its construction in 1988 and cannot accommodate wheelchairs. To make more space, the detective squad moved off site three years ago. Officers had to begin storing oversized pieces of evidence in a backyard garage.
The walls of closets in the station were removed to make room for more computers, a second dispatcher and larger network servers. Christmas decorations and boxes of office supplies crowd the women’s restroom. Specialized, temperature-sensitive gear is stashed in the shower stall of the men’s locker room.