(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody would like to have the La Porte County Jail out of the downtown.

There was considerable discussion about building a new jail along Johnson Road between La Porte and Michigan City before renovating the jail nearly 20-years ago.

On the Morning Mayhem with Dennis Siddall and Jo Happel, Dermody said “absolutely” when asked if he supports moving the jail. Dermody said tearing down the jail would provide space for doing something that would produce more benefits for downtown.

“Find a new place for the jail. What a great opportunity that would be to get control back of our downtown,” he said.

The jail was renovated about 20 years ago. Talks of a new jail are expected to heat up at some point in the future as the $20 million renovations begin showing more of its age, and significant improvements are expected.