Southwest Public Safety Center

Interacting with the DPD makes me feel as close as I've ever come to understanding what it must have felt like to interact with Soviet bureaucracy. The dysfunctional information systems. The disinformation. The byzantine, clogged channels of communication. It's sort of like this:

Me: Hey, this thing happened.
Police: Uh, did it?
Me: Uh, yes, some officers came out and took some notes on it.
Police: We... don't have any record of that.
Me: You don't have a... police report?
Police: Well, for a price, we might. You have to pay for a report, and you can only pay cash, and you can only pay during certain hours, in person.
Me: So, you do have a report, but you can't... talk to me about it?
Police: That detective is not on duty today and cannot be reached.
Me: What about--
Police: --ever. Cannot be reached ever. Have a good day.

Wow, ok? I guess this makes sense?

I give it plus points because it's not the worst building I've ever seen and it's kind of a pleasant stroll through the lobby on a sunny day.

the city just built this "safety center" (aka contractor gravy) and it's already down-sizing (just lost the parking payment office in the building). I was in here today to deal with police, who gave me a half-usual run-around when I needed help. (i dealt with two officers who kept telling me the exact opposite of what the other was saying, while referring me back from the one I'd just left... very three-stooges'esque (i won't flatter myself by guessing what character that made me) argh. the only thing actually servicing the area is the fire station half of it. otherwise, it looks nice, but i'm not convinced it's doing anything useful. two stars for fire engines.