Plano Daily Star-Courier from Plano, Texas • Page 5

Friday, September 6, 1974 Plano Daily Star-Courier-Section I-Page 5 CONSTANT MONITORvisual control at all times MUNICIPAL COUR Raymond Robinson to preside Updated Techniques Match New Facility Despite having to work around contractors rushing to complete final details, employes and visitors have nothing but compliments for new Police and Courts Building w'hich will be formally dedicated this weekend, City officials are urging residents to tour the building at 909 14th Street Sunday from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. and to attend 2 p.m. ceremonies featuring Col. Wilson Speir, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Approved by the voters in a 1971 bond election, the square foot building and its adjacent parking facilities were constructed at a cost of $440,394 on a $93,690 site.

FTirnishings and equipment were purchased for The municipal court department will be located in the southern portion of the new building Comparable in size to the city council chambers, the new courtroom contains a jury lx)x, witness stand and bench. The room which seats 90-l(K)can be used for other meetings as well as for court sessions. Office space is provided for the city judge, court clerk and office workers and a conference room and storage space for records is also included. The warrant officer is also located in the court department. The 2,200 square foot police department is separated from the court facility by a massive tiled lobby furnished in orange.

A receptionist is to be stationed in the lobby from 8 a.m. to midnight to assist citizens with police business and a dispatcher will be available 24 hours a day in a glassed-in area just off the lobby. The dispatcher will monitor activity in the building as well as in the field with the aid of a complex audio-visual system. With a lighted map of the city before him the dispatcher can locate all patrol units at a glance and will be able to link the cars to any telephone line by radio. 1 he dispatcher will also monitor activity within the building on a closed circuit television system.

Using five cameras throughout the police department-two in the jail area, one in the garage, one in a hall and one in the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) section-the dispatcher will be able to follow the route of a prisoner to his cell. Officers will bring in prisoners through a garage area electronically controlled by the dispatcher who can then follow the Photos by Mike Newman progress through the booking procedure. Once in the jail, cameras and microphones still monitor the prisoners and the two visiting rooms are so constructed that the prisoner never leaves the secured area. Shower facilities are also provided in the jail area. Office and lab space has been greatly increased in the new building and a records section has been established.

The department plans to hire new clerks to assume many of the non-enforcement duties of the patrol officers which will, in turn, free the officers for street work. A large training and briefing room is provided for officers and a snack area is located near a small kitchen facility which is fully equipped with refrigerator and range so jailers can cook for prisoners rather than send out for food. WitJ) the formal opening of the new buildingv the police department will be gradually implementing new procedures to increase law enforcement capabilities. Police personnel will be available during activities to escort citizens through the new facility and explain these new techniques, so officials are hoping for a large crowd. COMMAND Chief J.

B. Toler in charge I i 1 KITCHEN-DINING. food preparation POLICE AND COURTS more services to the community RECORDS clerks to free officers for enforcement iluties COM MUNI center of the statkm.