A temporary police station is a facility established to provide law enforcement services for a limited period, often during the construction, renovation, or relocation of a permanent station[5]. These stations can be modular or prefabricated buildings designed for rapid setup and eventual removal or relocation once the main police facility becomes operational[5].
Temporary police stations are typically constructed to offer core policing functions such as a reception area, booking station, roll call area, evidence processing, and offices. Depending on the setup and requirements, some may also include temporary holding cells and interview rooms to process and question detainees[5]. For example, the temporary Maryland State Police station included a sturdy holding area, roll call, booking, and reception facilities—making it a fully operational interim station for several years[5].
In other instances, temporary police stations may omit certain features, such as holding cells, due to space or security limitations. For example, the temporary police station in Burlington provides space to interview victims and suspects but does not have facilities for detaining arrestees; detainees are transferred to another location for holding[4].
Procedures and security at temporary police facilities are governed by departmental policies, focusing on safety, civil rights protection, separation of detainees by gender and age, and provision of basic needs like medical care and food[2]. Staff assigned to such facilities receive specialized training in managing temporary detention environments and must comply with established operational standards[2].
Temporary police stations are essential for maintaining continuous law enforcement services and operational efficiency in cases where existing stations are unusable or when establishing a presence at special events, emergencies, or in newly developed areas[5].
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