SAN RAMON, Calif. -- While San Ramon police consider relocating to a new police station on Crow Canyon Road, the department's potential neighbors are trying to discourage the move.

On Tuesday the San Ramon City Council plans to vote on whether to buy the 61,000 square-foot building for a temporary police station while the city builds a new city center.

But many residents worry the station will be a lightning rod for trouble.

"They will bring in criminals. They will bring in sex offenders. We don't know what will happen to this neighborhood," said San Ramon resident Shekher Battu.

Long time residents say a police station may increase crime by introducing a criminal element and drag down property values in the process.

Bill Noel wondered, "If you're sleeping and its 12 or one o'clock and they bring in a drunk and he's boisterous. Then it ruins the quality of life."

Police Captain Joe Gorton said the department has no choice because the current building is very small and it's bulging at the seams.

Currently, more half of the 76-person department, including records technician Chauvette Hartway, is sharing the cramped office.

"It's pretty tight... I can't stretch my arms out," said Hartway.

Other police units are in nearby rentals which Gorton explained is an inefficient way for a public safety department to communicate.

"Generally you try not to put a locker room in the middle of your administration area but unfortunately we have no other room," said Gorton.

Captain Gorton also said he was surprised by the residents resistance especially because many of their fears were unfounded.

He says the station will not have holding cells or allow sex offenders to register here. "I felt that if we embarked on an educational campaign it would alleviate their concerns," said the Captain.

Xeno Rasmusson says he may be in the minority but he doesn't mind if seeing police cars parked in a now-empty lot..

"I think it might make the neighborhood safer. It's not a prison they're not going to have dangerous criminals. Maybe they'll hold people for a little while so I don't feel at risk," Rasmusson said.

Rasmusson added his main concern is the cost of the building: $7.1 million for a police station that will likely only be used for the next four or five years, or until San Ramon's planned city center is completed.