Tour shows Mt. Prospect police station inadequacies

During recent budget hearings, Mount Prospect Police Chief Tim Janowick told village trustees about the challenges he and his officers face in what he calls an outdated station.

Last week, he had a chance to show trustees and the village's finance commission exactly what he means during a tour of the village's public safety center.

The tour revealed a facility in which it is difficult to keep victims, witnesses and perpetrators segregated during an investigation, where sergeants work in cramped quarters, where evidence processing and training facilities are antiquated, and where vehicles in an underground parking area are threatened with falling concrete.

"It's not that I want to keep up with the Joneses," Janowick said. "We have some very serious, real operational needs here. And it's about looking not only for what we need today."

Among the stops on the tour was the station's evidence processing area, which is large enough for only two technicians to work at the same time, and there is no room for equipment that enables the department to run fingerprints through a national database.

A larger processing area would make the department less reliant on the state crime lab, where backups can keep investigators waiting months for results of testing, Janowick said.

Elsewhere, Janowick pointed out the inadequate size of the women's locker room, and he said the department's lockers in general are too small to hold all the equipment officers must carry.

The chief also raised concerns about the lack of interview rooms, resulting in situations in which suspects are placed throughout the building. Of particular concern is where to put the children of parents who are either under arrest or being interviewed as suspects, he said.

Throughout the facility, Janowick said, crowding and lack of privacy interfere with the smooth functioning of the operation. For example, one small room serves multiple purposes: as a lunchroom, a holding area for witnesses and suspects, a planning room for search warrant or surveillance activity, and a meeting room.

Noise and lack of privacy also are issues in the area where the chief works. His office is near the space reserved for crime prevention and crime-free housing divisions.

"They are always bringing civilians in to talk, our residents, right into where we are trying to discuss personnel issues, operational issues, citizen complaints," Janowick said.

The police department shares the public safety building with the fire department, which, while also short on space, is making do, said Fire Chief Brian Lambel.

Mayor Arlene Juracek and village trustees said they agree upgrades are necessary. The question is how and at what cost.

"Obviously, we would like to see a more modern facility," Juracek said.

Trustee Paul Hoefert suggested leasing space to address some of those deficiencies in the short term while a long-term solution is examined.

"This has gone on too long, based on the things I'm hearing from (Janowick) tonight. This is not a good situation," he said after the tour.

The first step toward an upgrade is likely a space study Janowick plans to hire a consultant to conduct, using $20,000 initially earmarked for bathroom upgrades.

Officials in neighboring Arlington Heights are moving ahead with plans to spend almost $28 million on a new facility for its police force. In 2012, Palatine's police department moved into a new police station that cost about $20 million to construct and equip.