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Hendricks wants to ‘spruce’ up jail
Published Saturday, June 21, 2008
VIDALIA — Police chief-elect Ronnie G. “Tapper” Hendricks wants to see some changes at the Vidalia Police Department — and not just with how things are run.
“When you walk into the department, it’s like walking into a dungeon,” Hendricks said.
Once he takes office, Hendricks wants to have a crew go in and do some general maintenance on the building, fixing air ducts without vent covers, scrubbing smoke-stained walls and replacing sagging or water-stained ceiling tiles.
Built in 1958 under the administration of former Vidalia Mayor John Dale III, the police station has become increasingly dingy through the years, Hendricks said.
“We are not going to spend a lot of money, but we have to spend a little bit to spruce it up,” Hendricks said. “First impressions are the most important, and no matter how great the city is and how clean it is, when someone walks into the Vidalia Police Department it’s like walking into the 1950s.”
The last time any major work was done on the station was when current Police Chief Billy Hammers took office in 1998, Hammers said.
“When I came in I had new paneling and new cabinets put in,” Hammers said. “I also took some cells and had them turned into offices.”
The station needs some new flooring, and Hammers said he was planning to put down new tile before the election, but because Hendricks was elected that responsibility would fall on him.
“The inside was almost completely remodeled when I took over,” Hammers said. “I was an officer for 13 years before that, and there wasn’t any work done during that time.”
The simple facelift will hopefully make the community see the station as a friendlier place, Hendricks said.
“We want to get (the station) functional where our officer family and the public will feel comfortable,” Hendricks said.
Hendricks takes office July 1.
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kinda like a welcome home for some huh...lol
Posted by nascarbabe29 (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a police station not a gosh dawg motel.......Yea when people walk in there it's good that they think they walked into the 1950's....nobody wants to go back there...lol
Posted by judy9205 (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jail should be jail not the holiday inn. Oh and prison should be prison and not called a center or an institution. If the idiots end up there let them rehabilitate their own ignorant selves. It is not the tax payers responsiblity to see the to these murderers, theives and obsconders. Almighty God blessed each and everyone of us with free will and these idiots used that free will that put themselves right where they are!
Posted by justayappin (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The police dept. is not only used for criminal use. If you drive by any dept. on Friday evening or Sunday evening, you will most likely see divorced parents exchanging their children. Alot of Judges make the police dept. a meeting/exchange place for minors. That is done for the sake of the child. The dept. does need a facelift that will make people feel comfortable. This dept. does not even house inmates, they are taken to CPSO at the end of the day. But, think about it..... if a judge ruled that you exchange your child at the VPD, would you want then to feel comfortable being there? Maybe some wouldn't, but that is b/c your divorce situation. I have been in that situation, my daughter was scared of police and the VPD for years. It needs to be a more comfortable place for the non-criminals.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"We could hang some curtains over here and a ficus tree would look sooooo lovely in that corner. The walls should be painted a delicate ecru...and the carpets...shouldn't we find some fabulous rugs to accent each cell? Umhummmm that would be nice. Make it feel more homey, you know?"
Posted by KreweMember2 (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The city facilities have been in need of updating for many years! They are have been at the bottom of the list for improvements. If you demand good protection from these men and women then back them and give them the facilities and technologies needed for them to fight crime in today's world. Antiquated buildings and equipment are such the norm in this area. We need to upgrade and charge into an age that has passed us up decades ago. All areas of security have been treated with the "not in my town attitude". It is time we step up to the plate and address the world as it is being presented to us. Get your heads out of the holes that they have been buried in. Security has to be proactive not reactive. You ask for protection and scoff at requests for advancements. Our area is so far behind, any improvements are a step forward. Make up your minds Miss-Lou.... are you going to be a place where we move forward or a place where we sit once again on our hands doing nothing and let the world make our city more dangerous for our children and our future? You fuss about the same old problems year after year. Then get of off your whinny butts and do something positive and support a little improvement.
Posted by Gimmeabreak (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And it begins...Use that big pay raise you got to do the fixin-up! Jail is supposed to be unpleasant, that way you dont want to stay or come back.
Posted by Gimmeabreak (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every place in the world is not comfortable...get used to it..we are too spoiled these days. Why would anyone be uncomfortable in a police station-I dont care what it looks like-chances are, no one is going to commit any crime against you in there, and for people exchanging children-how long are they having to wait-shouldnt there be a designated time for drop off and pick up that alleviates that? (I have no experience with this situation). All I am trying to say is....the world is not all comfy and clean and cozy, some places need to stay hard as a reality check for where you dont want to be!
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A jail is not suppose to look glamorous. It's for punishment not a holiday!
Get a grip on things Tapper you are not even in office yet.
Posted by okay (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well maybe you have not been in the PD in a while Over the Hill 60. As you can read in the article it is maintance and improvments not to make it look "pretty" but to make it look half decent and safe. That way when people like you come in you wont sue when the sagging ceiling falls on your head.
Posted by justayappin (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with KreweMember2!!! This dept. is not used for inmates, it is used at times for a holding cell for minors. Yes, who have committed a crime!!! As far the exchange of children .... you apparently don't have that luxury. Alot of times, the other parent is not on time or maybe a threat has been made. The article never mentioned that Tapper was going to turn it into a Holiday Inn. He said "First Impression" that means walking in the front door. When a criminal (minor) is taken to the VPD they are taken through the back door or if not a minor, to the CPSO. I agree with keeping the cells cold and uncomfortable, but for a first impression -- yes it needs a facelift. People from out of town stop by police depts for directions...it is not used for just criminal use. I want the town of Vidalia to be known as a nice place, even the front entrance of the VPD!!!!
Posted by nascarbabe29 (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay I can understand that the judge has designated that as a trading center for divorced families...and yes my child would probably fear the law too if they had to associate the two together...So why not spend the extra dollars and builded a safe trading building for these families in need? We don't need another bank or hotel...Why not something for our children after all aren't they our future??
Posted by justayappin (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That would be a great idea, BUT just think of the Bull that would be said on this site about it. I have seen that alot of the bloggers here are just bored, unhappy people that think 'if it's not my idea, it's not a good idea'. I pray for the ones who comment on a tragedy by dogging the victim. People who speak in negativity are the very unhappy - bitter life ones. May God touch your heart oneday and you change.
Posted by Gimmeabreak (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you want to build something for the children...build them more playgrounds, soccer, baseball and softball fields, its a shame that so many have to trade their children at a court appointed place..in my opinion.
justayappin, what tragedy has happened and where are people dogging the victim-I guess I didnt see that. People are not being negative, they are voicing their opinion, you say it is negative because it is not your opinion. Why do you think you need to pray for people who dont agree with you?
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