BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE -- They're hauling boxes, moving files, disconnecting and reconnecting computers. All while they patrol the streets of Independence. But these police officers couldn't be happier about their new home -- the second floor of the Kenton County Courthouse. They trade rickety wooden steps for a marble and wrought-iron staircase, loose carpet squares for real carpet.
And the receptionist isn't afraid anymore that the safe's going to crash through the ceiling and smash her.
"It's very nice to have a clean building and a brighter atmosphere," said Lt. Shawn Butler, department spokesman. "I can't impress enough how thrilled we are to be here. And it's not leaning. Everything's flat."
Discussions about a new facility had been going on at least since Chief Ed Porter interviewed 2 1/2 years ago. The former Cincinnati Police Division SWAT commander only agreed to take the job after city officials promised to discuss the workplace issue. He told council members that walking into the former station, in a converted duplex on Madison Pike, was like walking into "dirty, old smoky pool hall."
And when somebody suggested fixing up the old headquarters, the chief minced no words: "That would be like putting earrings on hogs."
The old building, rebuilt in 1911 after a fire, wasn't what the officers originally had in mind. There had been discussions about building the growing department a new place. But the space was available, with so much of the building's former traffic now going to the county building in Covington to do business.
For now, the officers are happy in their new digs, in a building erected when state law required the courthouse to be within a day's horse ride from any spot in the county.
"It's a nice place," said Sgt. Ed Bailey. "We're glad to have it."
The department was ahead of schedule and working out of its new offices on Thursday.
