Danville Police Department in need of expansion

DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - The Danville Police Department needs more space.

That's one of the findings of a new study conducted to determine whether the city has enough room for all of its departments.

The study found the department needs, roughly, an additional 25,000 square feet of space beyond what it currently has in the bottom level of city hall where the department is currently located.

The study suggests that space is needed for a formal lobby in the police department.

Currently, the department is essentially just a hallway of offices.

The study also suggests that space is needed for public restrooms inside the police department, to create a way for the police department to screen people who are coming in and out, and to expand in the evidence room.

Currently, the department is having to destroy any evidence that the state will allow or give any evidence over to the state that the state will allow so that evidence can be stored by the state rather than it having to be stored on site at the police department.

"There are some things that we're required to keep regardless of that just by what we're required to do; 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, whatever else," Danville Police Department Lt. Mike Wallace explained. "So, that's a significant time period that we have to find space for items. So, you do run into issues of finding space."

Wallace said the department is in communication with the city to address this space issue. In the mean time, the department does have enough room currently to be able to effectively still serve the citizens here in Danville.