Sheriff wants expanded drunk tanks

Washoe County commissioners will be asked today to spend $45,000 to pay for architectural work.

Plans call for separate rooms to house men and women who are taken to jail for civil protective custody. Another room would be reserved for those considered too mean to be housed with others.

Before July of last year, intoxicated people arrested by Reno, Sparks and Washoe County officers were taken to the Northern Area Substance Abuse Council. But the agency only accepted nonagressive people and officers would have to wait until each was evaluated. Some had to be taken to the hospital before being taken to jail, officials said.

Now, all are taken to jail or its infirmary. Officials said that frees up officers' time.

But space is limited and the number of people arrested for drunkenness is growing.

Figures show the number of people taken into protective custody for a three month period ending in June was nearly double that of the same period last year.

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