This is the look of the new lobby area as you walk into the Washington Court House Police Department. The telephone on the table is how you talk to the dispatcher behind the wall (formerly an open window). The lobby was renovated for safety and security.
Gail Allen | R-H photos
WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — The Washington Police Department recently went through a lobby renovation to “meet the demands for modern dispatch,” according to WPD Chief Jeff Funari. It was also completed for safety and security reasons for the dispatchers and public visitors.
When you enter the new lobby, there are signs to alert visitors to use the provided telephone on the table to call “1400” on that phone to reach the dispatcher behind the wall. The dispatcher will then bring your presence to the attention of the person in the building you came to see, or call an officer from the field to respond to assist you.
Funari said that someone is normally in the building at all times during first shift operations due to the administration and detectives working in their offices. Patrolmen are in and out during the day as needed. There is a lighter office presence on second and third shift, but assistance is always available.
Dispatcher Bennett said that many seniors have entered the building and when they don’t see anyone, they turn around to leave. The dispatcher cannot get up and come around to the lobby and leave her control room. Funari and Bennett wanted the public to know that the new phone system is easy and always available.
The lobby now, instead of an open window and visual ability to see a person, now has a pass-through security cabinet in the wall. This 18×18” box unit is a one-way opening device, bullet proof, and is used for the pickup of items as necessary. For example, they maintain a lost-and-found cupboard for items citizens turn in (such as wallets and phones found), and when the owner comes to claim the item, it will be placed in the box. The box is closed from inside the dispatch room, and then the owner is able to open the box from the lobby and retrieve the item. It is also used for those coming to pick up copies of accident or incident reports.
The flooring was also upgraded from a laminate flooring to new vinyl in the kitchen area behind the dispatch room, and carpeting in the dispatch room to improve acoustics.
Chief Funari also wanted to introduce his two newest patrol officers who have completed their police academy training, been certified, and local training to be on patrol as a single unit. Officer K. Picard came to the department in November of 2023 and Officer C. Pettiford joined in July 2023.
Funari said that his current department has 21 individuals and he is still looking to hire two more officers. One officer is retiring at the end of 2024, so they are starting the process ahead of time to keep up the staffing levels. The next officers’ test will be given in October, Funari said.
Funari was asked about the Scarecrow Festival weekend and said he had three to four officers near the beer garden area and five or six others walking the festival. There were no significant incidents to report. He felt the weekend went very well.
