At first glance, the modest brick building at 22 N. Center St. blends in with other structures throughout Marshalltown’s central business district.

But its purpose, and what goes on inside, make it markedly different.

It is home to the Marshalltown Police Department, and has been since the early 1980s, according to Police Chief Michael Tupper.

But the building’s neat and clean exterior belie a number of serious deficiencies inside the more than 100-year old building once owned by the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co.

During a recent 90-minute tour hosted by Chief of Police Michael Tupper, he emphasized the building’s design was unsafe for the public, civilian employees, and police officers when they book suspects and interview witnesses among other duties.

“Police work is unpredictable ,” he said. “A witness or a suspect may be extremely cooperative during an interview and then turn violent when they realize they are going to be arrested.”

Specifically, Tupper said, a suspect or suspects could overpower an officer or officers, and the only thing that separates them from freedom are two doors leading to a back alley.

There is a lack of space to hold suspects who have not been charged with a crime.

“We have had cases, where we have had violent suspects that we want to talk to … but we do not have enough information to arrest them … so they are not technically in our custody,” Tupper said.

He specifically cited a case where multiple suspects connected with a murder had to sit in the building lobby used by the public because there was no room.

Police officers typically have to take reports from residents in the lobby before other visitors because there is no room elsewhere.

While the two story building gives the impression of much square footage, a lot of it is unusable for staff or storage, due to structural deficiencies, or water leaking in from the roof or through basement walls.

The city and county’s 9-1-1 staff and equipment work in an area where flooding or sewage backup have occurred.

“We have invested a significant amount of funds into this building over the years, in an attempt to stop flooding,” said City Administrator Randy Wetmore.

Elsewhere, a floor on the second story is structurally unsound, Tupper said.

Other deficiencies cited by Tupper include the serious lack of parking near headquarters, and the building is not handicapped accessible for residents or employees.

“We have elderly and handicapped people who need to use our services, but finding a place to park is often a challenge” Tupper said. “I have people tell me they wanted to stop in and conduct business, but could not because of the lack of parking. And once they are in here, this is not a handicap accessible building. This impacts our staff. We have civilian employees that work here. The lack of accessibility would prevent us from hiring a handicapped person who could work in one of our offices, the 911 center or elsewhere.”

A public parking lot is approximately one-half block north, but residents either don’t know it exists or do not, or can not walk the distance to the police station.

While parking is reserved for officers to conduct pressing business inside, none are reserved for residents.

They compete with customers and employees from neighboring businesses for the few public spaces on North Center near headquarters. In the vicinity are two popular taverns and a grocery store. Nearby is a pet grooming grooming business. Half a block away towards the Courthouse Square is an appliance store and a busy restaurant/grocery store.

The city has explored remedies to address Tupper’s concerns. Fixing 22 N. Center is not one.

Tupper and Wetmore said consultants have advised against remodeling the building because of severe structural conditions.

Consequently, the city hired Wilson Estes Police Architects in October to design a new building.

Helping the city formulate a plan for a new police building was a committee comprised of local residents.

They are attorney Kevin Hitchins, chairman, former Mayor and Lennox general manager Tommy Thompson, Joan Moore, at-large councilman Leon Lamer, Marshall County Supervisor Denny Grabenbauer, at-large councilwoman Bethany Wirin, Mike Wilson, and Sandy Wise.

A site on South Sixth Street near the American Legion entrance was selected.

Estimated costs range from $13.5 to $14.7 million.

The council has expressed ideas to reduce the costs to Wilson Estes at a March 2 special city council meeting, and may do so again Monday.

Regardless, the city council must borrow to pay for the facility, and Iowa law requires voters to favor the issue by 60 percent.

The council must set the loan amount no later than March 18, said Wetmore, to get it on the ballot for a vote in early May.

“The police department should be a welcoming building, and people should feel safe when they come in,” said Tupper.