“Embarrassing”: Wilmette police station’s deficiencies examined in recent discussion about reconstruction

Efforts to advance plans to rebuild the Wilmette Police Station continued on Thursday, July 18, when the township’s Public Safety Committee met to review options for the project.

The township has been exploring the possibility of a new police station for more than 20 years, and Thursday’s meeting marked another step forward in the latest round of discussions, during which commissioners discussed the financial and design implications of three proposed plans.

Village officials outlined the following: The first option is to delay reconstruction for five years and move the completion to 2032. The cost of this is $62 million. The second option is to completely renovate the current building and build an addition. The project is worth $49 million and could be completed in 2027. The third option is to build a new station for $51.4 million.

The options provide updated details after a Study presented in February The estimated cost of a new station is $53 million to $57 million. Village Manager Mike Braiman said that based on a review of the study, officials reduced the original cost by 6.5%, or $3.2 million.

Braiman made it clear on Thursday that the community is committed to modernizing police facilities.

“As soon as you walk in, you will see that this police station is not functioning in the way that it should properly serve our community,” he said. “From a community leader’s perspective, it is frankly embarrassing that we have this police station.”

Attendees at the meeting – including three trustees, Police Chief Kyle Murphy and other village staff – did not formally express support for any of the options, but expressed their thoughts and opinions on the three options and discussed next steps.

The quality and functionality of the space were top priorities for trustee Steve Leonard, who did not consider Option 2 – a renovation and expansion for a reported $2 million less than a completely new build – to be an effective choice.

“We’re trying to build a world-class facility that will meet the needs of the future,” Leonard said during the meeting. “Getting those facilities right is a top priority. To say we could use existing buildings and save a little money and compromise on the final product … I don’t really see that as an option. (We’ve) failed on that option.”

The first plan is the most expensive, mainly because of the expected cost increases. Official estimates suggest that each year the project is delayed will result in an increase of about 4%. That’s about $2.5 million per year and more than $11 million over five years.

A renovation and expansion of the current police building, originally constructed in the 1960s and expanded in the 1980s, would involve demolishing much of the existing structure to meet modern codes and expectations. Officials say this option presents the greatest challenge in creating functional space for the department, and there are limits to what can be built on the existing structure – for example, the building reportedly cannot support a second story in its current form.

A brand new station would include several new rooms and upgrades to other spaces, such as a shooting range and an evidence processing room.

The commission referred to some of these as “should have” spaces, describing areas that would allow for on-site training, support community outreach and improve outdated facilities. These spaces were discussed separately after the committee visited four recently built suburban police stations to understand the department’s needs.

The most significant of these areas are the shooting range ($2.31 million, 3,845 square feet) and the parking garage ($4.43 million, 9,400 square feet).

Murphy explained that shooting ranges have evolved from the commonly known image of shooting lanes with targets in the distance. Modern ranges are more open and simulate real-world situations, such as moving targets, and allow for teamwork, he said.

“Some people may wonder when the Wilmette Police Department was last involved in a shooting incident,” Murphy said. “…Fortunately, it’s not a regular occurrence, but we have to be careful. It’s rare, it’s very dangerous, and we have to be prepared for it. … These aren’t always shootings, but there are also situations where you shouldn’t shoot.”

“The ultimate goal is to reduce the likelihood of the use of force… which we are doing now but are not within our means to achieve.”

Village Manager Michael Braiman agreed, saying that village policing is “falling behind” and that “this is a really important area that has become indispensable.”

Currently, Wilmette officers conduct their shooting training off-site, which costs Wilmette $162,000 annually — a combination of facility rental, personnel and mileage costs, according to Erik Hallgren, deputy village manager.

Murphy said indoor parking would increase operational efficiency during the winter months, when patrol cars and their technology take up to 30 minutes to get ready for use. Covered parking would also reportedly reduce idling by the equivalent of 47,390 miles per year and could extend the life of police vehicles.

Other desired programs include a modernized social services area, a multipurpose room, and general spaces to support future staff capacity.

In August, the council’s Finance Committee plans to present information on the impact of each option on Wilmette taxpayers. The results will be discussed during a council committee meeting on Sept. 19 at the village hall, where the township will host an open house prior to that meeting focusing on the project.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan local newsroom that relies on reader support for its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible reporting for your community.

Are you already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.