Watham City Councilors Call Police Station Condition 'Despicable'

WALTHAM, MA — First there were years of discussion about what to do about the aging Waltham Police Department building. Then the city sat in a holding pattern during litigation, while Waltham Police officers took to duct taping doors and railings to keep them from falling off walls. Now, it looks like there may be a solution in the works to update the headquarters.

City Council President Diane LeBlanc led the charge in the chamber to reject mayor Jeannette’s McCarthy's police station renovation proposal. The move came about six months after a judge dismissed a lawsuit in March against the city, after an award letter was sent out before the council approved funding, LeBlanc said during a council meeting Oct. 1. That litigation had forced the city into a holding pattern, but now with the issue dismissed, it was time to come up with a viable plan, she said.

LeBlanc and other city councilors don't argue that the station is in need of repair, but they say it's beyond renovation at this point.

"Renovation is an unacceptable option and it's a slap in the face to the men and woman who risk their lives every day to protect our community," she said, adding; "The building is a mess."

LeBlanc said on a recent tour a railing came off the wall in her hand. Last week an officer showed her a photo of a door in the station that was secured with duct tape.

"Waltham is better than this," she said ahead of a unanimous vote Oct. 1 to reject what she called a now outdated renovation proposal. They also voted to reject a proposal that would temporarily relocate police to the former Nurses building at Fernald during the renovation, citing a lack of environmental studies.

"This has been going on for at least 15 years. The building is despicable. [There are] rodents running around," said Councilor Thomas Stanley. "If Watertown can have a state of the art police station, why can't Waltham?

Five years ago McCarthy planned to spend $7. 28 million on renovating the Lexington Street station that was built in 1964, five years before the high school. For comparison Weston just spent $12 million and Watertown spent $15 million on new stations.

The Waltham Police unions over the years have pointed to mold in the vents, outdated equipment, not enough space, and inadequate change rooms Waltham's women police officers.

Councilors including LeBlanc, Logan, Vidal, Stanley, Harris plan to bring a public safety resolution, calling for a new station Tuesday, Oct. 10. Waltham Police Chief Keith McPherson supports the move, according to LeBlanc.

Check out the debate at the Committee on the Whole Meeting Monday, Oct. 1:

The action starts at 53 minutes

Plan To Put Waltham Police At Fernald Site Edges Forward

Temporary Police Station at Fernald Has One Key Opponent

Renovation of the Waltham Police Station

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff