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You might be used to seeing the old, run-down Kent Police station located on South Water Street. What you’re probably not used to seeing is the condition of the interior of the building.

The station is in a state of crisis. The wiring isn’t done correctly. There is no storage space. The walls are deteriorating. The staircase is unfinished and more!

Lieutenant James Prusha feels this building is not a stable work environment for the officers and prisoners.

“We’ve had a couple roof leaks, we’ve had a roof collapse, also, the building just isn’t set up to be a police department. There is places where people are trying to work and it’s right in the middle of a place where people are always walking through interrupting. The jail is very old and outdated, it doesn’t meet current standards.”

Fortunately for the Kent Police task force, a new building will be arriving in November of 2016. It will reside on the southeast corner of State Route 59 and South Depeyster Street.

The city is in the process of acquiring the properties in the area to prepare for demolition.

The approved and improved building renderings are available for viewing on KentPD.org.

Lieutenant Prusha is anxious to move into an upgraded station that is modern and up to code.

“I think we’re all very excited to move into the new building and I think we will able to work better out of the new building, and it’s exciting just to have a new place but it’s gonna be a lot more efficient. I think we’re gonna be able to serve the community a lot better with a place designed for that.”

For TV2 KSU, I’m Stefanie Kilnapp.