One problem with Waukegan’s 60-year-old police station is its jail cells. Police Chief Elias “Louie” Agalianos said the doors are so outdated that he has a special waiver from the Illinois Department of Corrections to use them.
Agalianos said doors now must be solid so a prisoner cannot use the bar on the door to hang themself. Now a police officer must monitor the cells through a camera to make sure no one tries to harm themselves.
“In the last six months, an officer was monitoring the cells through our camera system and saw (someone) trying to hang himself. We got there in time to prevent it,” he added, putting it high on his list for why the city needs a new police station.
The Waukegan City Council voted 6-3 Monday to spend $3.5 million to acquire 5.7 acres of vacant land on Green Bay Road to eventually build a new police station to replace the existing one, which he said is already obsolete.
Asked after the vote about his major concerns with the current station and reasons for a new building, Agalianos mentioned the jail cells ahead of everything else, from the ability to have the latest technology to a community room where officers and residents can establish relationships.
Able to complete the purchase of the land where a demolished Ramada Inn once stood on Green Bay Road with access to Washington Street, Agalianos said he anticipates it will be three to five years before the new station is complete. A year or two of planning comes first.
Before the debate began, Ald. Lynn Florian, 8th Ward, who voted no, asked the cost to build. Raymond Lee, an architect with FGMA, said depending on what the city might include, the cost of everything including furniture might be between $50 million and $100 million.
“The public needs to know exactly what we’re talking about, what we’re going to be paying on a yearly basis,” Florian said. “I believe we need this police station. Don’t get me wrong. We have to go about this in a smart, judicious way.”
Ald. Edith Newsoe, 5th Ward, voted for the acquisition. With almost 24 years on the council, she said the time has come to move ahead with a new station because “this can has been kicked down the road for over 20 years.” Dealing with the station itself comes later.
“We’re not building a station tomorrow,” Newsome said. “That will come back to the council, and it will be the council’s decision what type of police station will be built and how it would be paid for. Yes, it’s a tough decision, but it’s got to be done.”
Ald. Victor Felix, 4th Ward, said this is not the “right time to acquire the property.” He did not suggest a different idea for when to buy land for a new police station but did discuss what he was willing to do to help the department.
“ I’m willing to support other things, like funding police officer pay for overtime, including our commanders for one year, to help us get ahead of public safety challenges and make our city safer,” Felix said.
Mayor Sam Cunningham, who represented the 1st Ward for 18 years before being elected to his first term in 2017, already had four years as a council member when Newsome arrived. He said decisions were made over the years that make moving forward now necessary.
“The time has come for us to rebuild our police department just as we are rebuilding our city,” Cunningham said. “I’m excited to begin the process (and) our commitment to build our new police station.”
Centrally located near two of the city’s major thoroughfares, Agalianos said the property is excellent for the station. There is ample room for parking, which can be secured. Now, a lot is shared with two churches, and all squad cars must be moved each Sunday to on-street parking.
“It allows easy access to two major roads, Green Bay and Washington,” Agalianos said. “You can travel easily in any direction with relative ease.”
Along with conforming jail cells, Agalianos said the new building will have the latest technology to integrate things centrally. There will be more room for officers to work. Now, they are cramped in different situations.
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Agalianos said one thing currently lacking is space where police officers and residents can get to know each other when enforcement is not on the agenda. He recognizes the need for relationships.
“We want to create a community center where we can hold community events where people can meet officers in a non-enforcement role,” Agalianos said. “I want to say, ‘Hi, I’m Louie.’ Relationships have been fractured over the past few years.”
Joining Newsome in voting for the purchase were Ald. Sylvia Sims Bolton, 1st Ward, Ald. Juan Martinez, 3rd Ward, Ald. Keith Turner, 6th Ward, Ald. Michael Donnenwirth, 7th Ward, and Ald. Thomas Hayes, 9th Ward.
Ald. Jose A. Guzman, 2nd Ward, voted no with Felix and Florian.