Plan tweaks for the new Manteca Police headquarters that will break ground next year in the 600 block of South Main Street are before the City Council on Tuesday.

One is to protect the “sally port” from the public by moving it to the east side of the building.

What’s a “sally port”?

It’s police jargon for a secure entry way to transfer detainees from patrol vehicles to the station or from the station to a vehicle for transportation to the county jail.

The only nearby law enforcement agencies with such a feature are the Los Banos Police Department and San Joaquin County Sheriff Department.

Manteca Police Chief Stephen Schluer describes it as “a big box with doors on it.”

A patrol unit will enter one of two bays and a door will close behind them.

Once the “sally port” is secure, the detainee is taken into a door that leads to the booking area.

It addresses issues with suspects trying to bolt or possibly someone trying to interfere with the transfer.

Moving to the east side means it won’t be visible to the public and will take full advantage of 7-foot masonry walls that will surround the back and sides of the complex.

It is significantly more secure than the process the department now uses that removes detainees from patrol units basically in the open in a parking lot area secured by wrought iron fencing.

What they currently have is a big step up from the 1990s when that area was still secured by chain link fencing.

The tweaks will add $50,000 to the architectural and site plan costs that are now at $4.9 million.

A 10-foot easement that PG&E wasn’t aware they even had along the southern property line had to be accommodated as well.

In doing so, secure parking on the east side of the complex is being expanded.

The actual building is being shifted less than 10 feet further south to reduce the impact of the police project on a future city project on the northern half of the 8-acre property.

The city is considering building a combination library/performing arts center/community center at that location.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com