Modular buildings pose challenges for MPD

Because the Maricopa Police Department is housed in a cluster of modular buildings instead of a permament structure, they do not have holding cells where individuals charged with crimes can be detained until transported to the county jail in Florence.

“Most police facilities have at least one temporary holding cell to safely detain someone while either being processed for criminal offense or DUI or other types of charges,” said Assistant Chief of Police Kirk Fitch.

Additionally, Fitch said, the law requires an area for processing juveniles that is separate by “sight and sound” from where adults are processed. While MPD does process juveniles separately from adults in compliance with the law, they are in the same modular building.

When suspects are arrested by MPD, they are detained against a wall with handcuffs and must be monitored at all times, Fitch said. “That usually takes up some extra manpower because they can never be left out of sight.”

The wall is reinforced, but there is an exit on one side that must be accessible to comply with fire codes. On the other side of the detention area is a small locker room, but officers cannot store weapons there because of its proximity to the detention area, Fitch said.

And because of building codes, a partition cannot be built to separate the detention area from the rest of the room. If a suspect did get free, he or she could “bull rush” an officer in the room.