VIDEO: In San Mateo's Parkside neighborhood, a familiar place offers a respite for weary police officers.
"This is the home away from home for our police officers," said Sgt. Michael Haobsh with the San Mateo Police Department.
The city converted an old fire station into a police substation with sleeping barracks that can house up to 12 officers for overnight stays. A kitchen, bather, shower, and workspaces are some of the amenities.
The barracks replace the old option of sleeping at police headquarters during short turnarounds on shifts that can last up to 17 hours.
"We need a place to refresh in between our shifts. And so having these barracks here helps with that tremendously," said Haobsh.
In 2017, an accident involving a Mateo police officer who had a long commute home after a shift highlighted the problem the police department and many others have.