Hyattsville Evidence Lab Equipment Upgrade

Today’s law enforcement buildings are a highly complex design and highly technical facilities. Gone are the days of a simple Police station house. There is a growing need to assess operational space needs for personnel, equipment, and security, to turn a new police station or remodel an old facility. To take on the assignment of renovating a bank into our state-of-the-art Police and Community Center we evaluated the functionality of patrol, investigations, records, booking, dispatch, an evidence warehouse, and more over a two – year period.  We assembled a team with our Architects and community to make informed decisions that serve the whole department and our city’s needs. Having an effective Police Department means having a building that meets the needs and demands of the community it serves while allowing for administrative and staffing growth in handling the increase of crime. In 2015-2016, the City of Hyattsville began the planning and design of an innovative Police and Safety Building.  A building to allow for community outreach and conflict resolution for individuals, youth, and families to heal. With the rise of crime throughout the country, we conducted a feasibility study so that we can create or redevelop a structure that incorporates these new areas to allow for community building, incorporating additional administrative staff offices and the addition of infrastructure for the functions of evidence collection with state-of-the-art evidence rooms, laboratories, and storage areas. Our request for funding is for the ability to upgrade, expand, and grow our current evidence storage capabilities, workflow, and additional staffing to provide for the safety of over 21,000 residents in the city.