12-19-2008, 10:20 PM
Waukegan police to gain facility when military reserve center closes
By Ralph Zahorik | Special to the Tribune
December 18, 2008
The Waukegan Armed Forces Reserve Center is closing in three years and a new city police facility is planned for the 4.5-acre site at 1721 N. McAree Rd.
The center has been home since the 1950s to Marine and Army Reserve units, and the Marine unit returned in August from its second combat deployment to Iraq. Marines in the reserve company are from northeast Illinois and southeast Wisconsin.
The closing of the Waukegan center, along with the closings of dozens of other military facilities, was recommended in 2005 and approved by Congress as part of the base realignment and closure process.
The Marine unit is expected to move to Naval Station Great Lakes or possibly to Ft. Sheridan, which has a reserve center, said city officials.
Under a plan approved this month by a committee of city officials, the Waukegan Police Department would take over all but about 1,000 square feet of the 37,000-square-foot facility.
The main building would be used as a police substation with space for evidence and vehicle storage and possibly a gang intervention program, training and the junior police academy, said Police Chief Bill Biang. The center's garage, maintenance shop and wash building would be used for storing impounded vehicles and for police vehicle maintenance.
Nicasa, a social services agency, would run programs in the smaller portion of the building.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-waukegan-marine-center-18-dec18,0,2850463.story">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 0463.story</a><!-- m -->
By Ralph Zahorik | Special to the Tribune
December 18, 2008
The Waukegan Armed Forces Reserve Center is closing in three years and a new city police facility is planned for the 4.5-acre site at 1721 N. McAree Rd.
The center has been home since the 1950s to Marine and Army Reserve units, and the Marine unit returned in August from its second combat deployment to Iraq. Marines in the reserve company are from northeast Illinois and southeast Wisconsin.
The closing of the Waukegan center, along with the closings of dozens of other military facilities, was recommended in 2005 and approved by Congress as part of the base realignment and closure process.
The Marine unit is expected to move to Naval Station Great Lakes or possibly to Ft. Sheridan, which has a reserve center, said city officials.
Under a plan approved this month by a committee of city officials, the Waukegan Police Department would take over all but about 1,000 square feet of the 37,000-square-foot facility.
The main building would be used as a police substation with space for evidence and vehicle storage and possibly a gang intervention program, training and the junior police academy, said Police Chief Bill Biang. The center's garage, maintenance shop and wash building would be used for storing impounded vehicles and for police vehicle maintenance.
Nicasa, a social services agency, would run programs in the smaller portion of the building.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-waukegan-marine-center-18-dec18,0,2850463.story">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 0463.story</a><!-- m -->
