Cape city looks to auction metal detector, soda machine and other items at former police station

Want a free-standing metal detector, a soda machine or a handful of high-mileage used police vehicles? They are all up for auction Saturday at Cape Girardeau's former police station.

Police left behind everything from unwanted desks and chairs to lockers, paintings and file cabinets when they moved to the new police station in March.

Now, all those items, along with a number of items from other city departments, will be sold at auction on the back parking lot of the old police station at 40 S. Sprigg St.

The auction will start at 9 a.m., rain or shine, said Stan Polivick, Cape Girardeau public works assistant director who is organizing the event. Statler & Tuschhoff Auction Service will conduct the sale.

Polivick said people who want to bid on the items should "come early" so they can register before the start of the auction.

A soda machine will be among the items auctioned at the former Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Police chief Wes Blair said many of the items from the old police station are "pretty junky."

But Polivick said much of the furniture, while not new, is "in usable shape."

The auction will include 125 unclaimed, lost or stolen bicycles in possession of the police department, city officials said.

An outside dog kennel, a couple of boats including a 12-foot johnboat, several mowers and a large safe are among other items up for sale, according to a flier posted on the city's website.

Polivick said city employees plan to haul all the stuff out of the police station and onto the back parking lot today in preparation for the auction.

City officials don't expect to make a lot of money from the auction. "Getting rid of it is more important than making money," said Polivick. "I suspect the minimum bids will be pretty low."

While the Sprigg Street station has been vacant since early March, police have used it for active-shooter training throughout the building's offices and hallways, Polivick said.

What money the city makes in the auction will be put to good use, he said.

Revenue from the sale of items from the police and fire departments will be put into the city's public safety trust fund, Polivick said. Money from the sale of public works equipment will go into the city's equipment replacement fund while revenue from the sale of any other items will be placed in the general revenue fund, he said.

City officials said the old police station itself is not being auctioned. The building remains city property, although city manager Scott Meyer said it eventually may be sold.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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