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New Fairview Police, Municipal Building Has Emphasis On Security

FAIRVIEW, N.J. — Walk into the current Fairview police station and you may rub elbows with incoming prisoners, domestic violence victims or patrolmen switching posts.

Fairview Police Chief Martin Kahn outside of what will soon be the new police headquarters and municipal building on Anderson Avenue.

Fairview Police Chief Martin Kahn outside of what will soon be the new police headquarters and municipal building on Anderson Avenue.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
The rendering of the new Fairview police station and municipal building on the left, with the fire station behind the parking lot on the right.

The rendering of the new Fairview police station and municipal building on the left, with the fire station behind the parking lot on the right.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
The current Fairview police station and municipal buildings will come down to make room for a new parking lot. Police vehicles are currently parked on a side street.

The current Fairview police station and municipal buildings will come down to make room for a new parking lot. Police vehicles are currently parked on a side street.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Inside the new police station. Turn right to talk to the dispatchers and continue straight to access the elevator.

Inside the new police station. Turn right to talk to the dispatchers and continue straight to access the elevator.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
A look outside the front doors of the new police station onto the Anderson Avenue entrance.

A look outside the front doors of the new police station onto the Anderson Avenue entrance.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
The new access-controlled and fail-safe sally port is something the police department doesn't currently have. It can be accessed through the side parking lot.

The new access-controlled and fail-safe sally port is something the police department doesn't currently have. It can be accessed through the side parking lot.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Inside one of the two holding cells in the new Fairview police station, accessed through a hallway coming off of the processing room, which is the first room next to the sally port.

Inside one of the two holding cells in the new Fairview police station, accessed through a hallway coming off of the processing room, which is the first room next to the sally port.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Server room (so many wires).

Server room (so many wires).

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
The new detective bureau will have room for five desks.

The new detective bureau will have room for five desks.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
The new building will have two fire stairwells, one main stairwell and a double-sided elevator.

The new building will have two fire stairwells, one main stairwell and a double-sided elevator.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Say hello to the new Fairview courtroom, located on the second floor of the building.

Say hello to the new Fairview courtroom, located on the second floor of the building.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
Municipal offices on the third floor look out onto Anderson Avenue with views of the NYC skyline.

Municipal offices on the third floor look out onto Anderson Avenue with views of the NYC skyline.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine
We wouldn't mind that view every day.

We wouldn't mind that view every day.

Photo Credit: Cecilia Levine

The new building under construction next door was designed to make sure that none of that will happen.

Chief Martin Kahn and Capt. Vincent Bellucci helped design all three floors with an emphasis on the safety, security and privacy of everyone inside

"We put a lot of thought into these aspects," Kahn told Daily Voice. "In today's day and age, you want to take every precaution you can. You don't want anyone hurt."

The project is funded by a $9.5 million bond, bringing the police station and municipal building into a brand-new, three-story building next door.

The old building -- where the department and municipal officers are now -- will come down (as did the one next door where construction is currently under way) to be replaced with a parking lot.

"It's going to be a big change for us," Kahn said.

Albeit, a necessary one, he added.

A fail-safe sally port controlled through the front desk is among the additions to the department that the chief is most eagerly anticipating. It will lead directly into the processing room for mugshots, breathalyzer tests and fingerprinting with security cameras.

"Everything is going to be access-control," Kahn said. "It's a big change for us. Costly, but needed."

The new station will have two jail cells -- as opposed to just one -- that are juvenile and handicap-complaint. There will be a soundproof interview room and a juvenile interview room/holding cell.

Another important addition is the evidence room, located in the back of the new building, which will be among the largest in the department. All police evidence needs to be kept indefinitely, and tends to take up a lot space.

The new room will have condensing doors and lockers with limited access to evidence.

Right now, the department uses a donated mailbox from the post office to drop evidence, before the designated officer brings it to a secured room. Kahn explained it's not an ideal situation, but the new room will be.

Other rooms in the department include a large detective bureau with five desks, a server room, dispatcher room with cameras connected to the borough-wide security system and other small offices.

It will be a big change from the two rooms that nearly 10 officers are occupying on the second floor of the police station currently.

"The biggest change will be function," Kahn said. "We're used to being on top of each other."

An elevator in the middle of the building -- with double-sided access for police and public -- will lead upstairs to the municipal court, complete with additional storage space for legal documents. 

The judge, prosecutor and public defender officers are along the back wall above the sally port, and have a crawlspace escape route to the fire exit.

A large room in the back of the second floor will be a caucus room for closed-session meetings and will double as a training room and break room for police.

The police currently use the courtroom for training purposes.

The third floor will have municipal offices that boast a balcony and sprawling views of the Manhattan skyline.

Kahn said the construction is expected to be complete in the spring.

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