FED UP of what he described as ‘inhumane’ working conditions at the City Centre Police Station in downtown Kingston, a police officer has launched a one-man appeal on behalf of his colleagues, calling on the government to immediately refurbish the station and rid the place of rodents.

“The condition is inhumane, and asking us to work in it is inhumane,” said the officer, who did not wish to be named.

“We shouldn’t have to be working in these conditions, especially at a place where we spend the majority of our time. There is a whole lot of roaches, rats and rat droppings all over the station, and the place smells,” the disgruntled officer said.

“For a place in the business district, where people of all class have to come from time to time, it should be given better attention. We don’t even have a proper waiting area,” the officer complained.

The mouldy odour that greets visitors to the station serves as a prelude to the deplorable condition inside. On the ground floor, for example, the water-soaked ceiling in the passageway hangs heavily. Closer inspection reveals that a section of the ceiling is missing, while another section has caved in.

One of the many offices downstairs is covered in dust and crammed with broken furniture and rubbish. In addition, there is also no proper waiting area, and an unsightly holding cell dominates the ground floor. Partition walls made of wood have rotted away in some places, and the station is in need of a paint job. The cops also have to contend with leaky faucets in the restrooms.

On the second floor where the barracks are located, the condition is no different. A number of urinals are out of service. Rooms are stacked with garbage, and piled with broken furniture. The area is dusty, and some windows are broken.

“This is supposed to be the sleeping quarters,” the officer said.

There is at least one clean room. The bed has been made up and this is the only room where police personnel can get some rest. The room was made “livable” by a cop stationed there, the officer said, hinting that other frustrated cops may undertake the painstaking work of clearing a few other rooms for the use it was originally intended, with or without help from the government.

“It’s demoralising working in deplorable conditions such as this,” said the officer.

“It’s really demoralising.”