Geneva residents invited to tour police station this winter

The city is offering tours of the Geneva Police Station as part of its public education process for the upcoming public safety referendum.

Residents can register online at geneva.il.us/1680/Police-Station-Tours to take a tour on weekdays (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday), Wednesday evenings, or select Saturdays this winter.

Police Chief Eric Passarelli will serve as tour guide along with the help of other police staff members. Participants will meet in the lobby of the police station, 20 Police Plaza, to begin the 45-minute tour. Special requests will be accommodated on an as-needed basis by calling the Geneva Police Department at (630) 232-4736.

Voters will consider funding for the replacement of Geneva’s aging police station after the city council approved adding a $59.4 million public safety referendum on the March primary election ballot.

The police station is a conglomeration of three buildings built in 1915, 1953 and 1987. Despite multiple renovations, the facility no longer meets modern standards to provide high-level police services.

The police station faces persistent operational problems, including frequent roof leaks and sewer backups that have resulted in flooding and a recent partial ceiling collapse. The building lacks adequate office space, secure parking, emergency medical access, and sufficient room for equipment. Employees have also reported rodent issues. The building is no longer cost-effective to repair and does not meet energy-efficiency standards.

If voters approved the referendum, the city would build a new police station on city-owned property on South Street adjacent to the public works facility.

Residents can learn about the city’s need for a new police station, view preliminary architectural renderings, use an estimated referendum tax impact calculator, review the facilities master plan, read FAQs, and more on the city’s website, geneva.il.us/1607/Referendum-Information.