Greenburgh police chief presents building issues at town board meeting

Greenburgh officials say the town needs new buildings for police and the town's court.

They say in the basement of the building, there are rows of paperwork in the hallway because they have nowhere else to put it. Police Chief Christopher McNerney took News 12 inside the building, which was built back in 1958.

The department currently has a staff of over 150, but the building was meant for less than half that number.

Chief McNerney presented these issues to the Greenburgh Town Board Thursday evening to make the case as to why a new police and court building are badly needed.

He says their evidence room is full, they don't have adequate space to do multiple witness interviews, the roof leaks, the building isn't handicap-accessible and there isn't enough parking.

Another major issue has to do with the growing diversity in the department. The women's locker room is in what used to be a closet, and there is barely enough space for all of the 14 lockers in the room. The shower is now being used for storage, and if the department hires another female officer, there is no way to accommodate her in the room.

"I guess when this locker room was built it didn't there weren't as many female officers but now it's got to the point where they actually cut her sink in half and got rid of one of the sinks and got rid of her mirror space," says Greenburgh Police Officer Diana Albano.

The presentation at the town board meeting was the first of many as the police department and the court advocate for a new building.

The community voted against a $115 million bond to build a new school earlier this year. Town officials say Wednesday's meeting was held to better inform the public as to why new buildings are desperately needed.