Healy said that funds for a holding area were one of the things he would consider when he sits down with Paolillo today to review the police budget for next year.
For the first time since Proposition 2 1/2 the 1980 tax-cutting measure that forced cities throughout the state to trim their budgets, the Police Department is being given funds to enlarge its staff and equipment.
Healy said that the hiring of 15 new police officers, including more women, and officers specializing in juvenile affairs has already been approved.
The city will also be replacing about one third of its fleet of 19 marked police cars as well as buying five extras. Healy said.
Paolillo said his department was investigating leaving the cars rather than buying them outright, a move which would save the city "a substantial amount" of money. The average life of a police car is three years.
Paolillo added that Cambridge would be the first city in Massachusetts to lease its police fleet