Just a day after 11 News exposed the dilapidated conditions inside HPD’s central police station, the department said they’re working on improvements.

The station was full of stained ceilings with exposed wiring, leaking pipes, worn out chairs and old, outdated electronic equipment where investigators videotape suspect interviews.

“Yes, it’s an issue that is known to the department, and we have been taking steps to resolve the problems at the jail,” Assistant Chief Michael Dirden said.

Dirden said new digital video recorders have been purchased and should be installed by the end of the month.

He also provided a list of furniture the department ordered to upgrade the central station and the headquarters on Travis.

That includes two Park Avenue sofas for $8,528, one high-back chair for $1,443, and 37 other chairs for a total price of $26,650.

Because there is only one interview room at the jail, investigators have said they often have to wait hours to interrogate suspects.

But Dirden said that shouldn’t be the case.  He said a few blocks away from the station at police headquarters, the homicide division has two interview rooms, and the robbery division has another.

“I think the officers fail to realize that there are already alternatives available within the infrastructure of the police department,” Dirden said.

Still, some investigators say they’re not allowed to transfer prisoners form the jail to police headquarters for security reasons.

Dirden said that’s simply not true.

“Now, it may be inconvenient in the eyes of that investigator, but the opportunities are available,” Dirden said.

HPD blames many of the problems at the downtown station on the building’s age.

They’ve been negotiating to join forces with Harris County to build a new jail, but that bond issue failed in the last election.

Until that deal works out, it seems HPD will have to work with the facilities at a police building that was built more than 50 years ago.