EAST PEORIA (25News Now) – East Peoria officials cut the ribbon Friday on the city’s new police headquarters on West Camp Street.
The $21 million facility is now fully operational. City officials said the project was completed on time and under budget.
The department had operated out of shared space at the central fire station for decades before the move.
Mayor John Kahl said the facility is designed as a 50-year build to meet modern training and evidence-retention standards.
“From a public safety perspective, it’s another investment. It just demonstrates our commitment to public safety here in East Peoria. And it’s long overdue… Everything in this building has a purpose. May look nice, but there’s a purpose and there’s a reason for every little detail,” Kahl said.
Police Chief Dave Catton said dedicated spaces in the new building solve overcrowding issues, making daily patrols and investigations more efficient.
Catton said locating the headquarters in the Camp Street business district keeps officers close to high-call areas and opens new opportunities for recruitment.
“In the end, it’s just a building. But when it reflects the personality and the professionalism of our officers, it makes our community feel safe and it is safe because of the efficiency that our officers do every day,” Catton said.
City officials said the East Peoria Fire Department has taken over full use of the department’s old facility to expand its own operations.
Police officers are already working inside the new headquarters. The department held guided public tours Friday afternoon to show residents the completed facility.
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