Elgin officials opened the city’s first police headquarters in 150 years April 23.

Some context

The two-story, 11,000-square-foot facility is also the city’s first purpose-built police station and the first newly constructed building in Elgin’s historic downtown district, said Stacey Ford Osbourne, Elgin’s acting director of community services and public information officer, in a news release.
How we got here

Plans for the station were approved by Elgin City Council in March 2022, and construction began in March 2023. Now open, the station is equipped with designated spaces for training, investigations and evidence processing, Osbourne said.

The $6.6 million project was funded through Certificates of Obligation 2021A and the American Rescue Plan Act, and was designed to support the needs of Elgin’s growing population, she added.


The former police building, at 202 Depot St., will be used for city staff members.

Notable quote

“I’m really pleased that we were able to stay in the city’s downtown area and to still be a part of everything that is happening there,” Chief Chris Noble said in a news release. “I think having this new, modern building that still reflects the city’s history and character is important, and I know it will be an asset to us as we grow in the coming years.”