PLANNING FOR THE BUILDING TOOK APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AND ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION ABOUT 2 YEARS, WITH THE FINAL PRODUCT BEING A BUILDING WITH 57,588 SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR SPACE, ACCOMMODATING 320 POLICE-FIRE PERSONNEL. SOME OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF THE BUILDING ARE THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER WITH A COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCHING SYSTEM, THE CRIME LABORATORY, THE PHOTOGRAPHIC LABORATORY, AND A COMPLETELY SELF-SUPPORTING CIVIL DEFENSE OPERATING HEADQUARTERS. UNDER NONEMERGENCY CONDITIONS, THE CIVIL DEFENSE AREA PROVIDES SPACE FOR A CLASSROOM, GYM, LOCKER ROOM AND SHOWERS, AND A DINING AREA FOR EMPLOYEES. THE PORTION OF THE BUILDING HOUSING THIS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER RECEIVED A FEDERAL ALLOTMENT OF 50 PERCENT AS IS CUSTOMARY FOR APPROVED UNITS. THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER ALLOWS ALL COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE CITY TO BE CENTRALIZED. PERSONS WHO CALL THE POLICE EMERGENCY NUMBER ARE DIRECTED TO A COMPLAINT CLERK BY AN AUTOMATIC CALL DISTRIBUTION (ACD) SYSTEM, WHICH ALLOWS THE COMPLAINT CLERK TO BRING THE DISPATCHER, SUPERVISOR, AND OTHERS IMMEDIATELY ON THE LINE SO ACTION MAY BEGIN AS SOON AS IS NEEDED. A SECURITY SYSTEM WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BUILDING'S DESIGN. THE ADVICE IS GIVEN TO EMPLOY ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN POLICE FACILITIES, INVOLVE PERSONNEL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, AND DEVELOP A CLEAR VIEW OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE FUNCTIONS TO BE HOUSED TO ASSURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FACILITY WHICH WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. (RCB)