Cops Working Without Air Conditioning At South Loop Police Station
Updated 07/05/12 - 3:59 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago police stations are supposed to be able to double as cooling centers for the public when the weather turns hot, but the Central District station in the South Loop is offering no such relief during this heat wave.
WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports the Central District station at 18th and State streets wasn't cooling anything on Thursday, having gone without air conditioning for weeks.
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The officers inside didn't want to go on record complaining about the situation, but one officer said the building hasn't had air conditioning for more than a month, and it's been very warm inside.
Another officer told CBS 2 in a phone interview that the only part of the building with air conditioning is the lockup, where prisoners are held.
Chicago Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden told police that only part of the building is without air conditioning, and a part needed to fix the air conditioning unit has been ordered. Camden acknowledged a safety complaint had been filed to ensure the repairs are made, but said the lack of air conditioning was not a major issue for the officers.
In an email, the Police Department said, "We have been working closely with the Department of Fleet and Facility Management to address the lack of air conditioning in areas of the police facility at 17th and State St, and short term remedies have been implemented. The prisoner processing area and Central Detention have not been affected."
