East Peoria plans to build a new $21.5 million police station at the intersection of Clock Tower Drive and Camp Street, near the entrance to Target.
Here’s what we know about the police station, why it’s needed and when it will be built:
The East Peoria Police Department has outgrown its current space, says Ty Livingston, the city’s planning and development director.
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“The current building dates back to the 1980s,” he said. “Since then, the city of East Peoria has grown, particularly in terms of its commercial offerings, which attract visitors from throughout the area and region.”
The EPPD now shares the city’s 66,000-square-foot James L. Ranney Public Safety Building at 201 W. Washington Street with the East Peoria Fire Department, which remains the building’s sole occupant.
This arrangement, said EP Police Commissioner David Catton, presents operational challenges for both departments, particularly since the number of police officers has roughly doubled since the current building was built. Catton said the new building will accommodate an even larger force and will feature a larger evidence room and newer technology.
“We simply have no more space to store evidence,” Catton said. “We have done everything we can to dispose of evidence that we can legally dispose of, but we are out of space.”
What will the new police station in East Peoria have?
The new 45,000-square-foot police station will include a large evidence room and community space so the department can conduct more internal training and host events. Catton also believes the location of the new station will allow for a faster police response time. The current location is right next to a rail line that runs along the Levee District.
“We’re moving away from the tracks,” he said. “We’re currently right next to those tracks and they’re a big hindrance to our response time. The new station will be right on Camp Street where we can get right to the intersection.”
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Livingston said placing the new station at an entrance to the Levee District will not only improve police response time, but also their visibility. “The goal is to provide our police with a highly visible location in the heart of the city’s commercial activity area and ensure that East Peoria continues to be a safe place for residents and visitors,” he added.
When will the EP police station be built?
The city expects construction to begin later this year and is expected to be completed in early 2026. Livingston said costs are not being finalized, but the proposed budget for the new station is $21.5 million. Most of the project costs will be covered by a bond issue, he said.
