Located just 16 miles west of downtown Chicago, the village of Skokie, Illinois, is home to over 65,000 people who enjoy the vibrant feel of city life in a welcoming suburban setting. Known for its tagline, “Skokie: A Suburb That Feels Like a City,” this fast-growing area combines convenience with community appeal.
With Skokie’s rapid growth, the police department’s needs expanded beyond the 27,000 square-foot building that had previously served the department. As Skokie’s demands evolved, so did the requirements for an effective, organized, and secure storage system to support the modern needs of the force.
Recognizing this, the village embarked on a project to transform an unused 79,300 square-foot plant into a contemporary police headquarters. A collaborative “New Headquarters Team,” including department leaders, user committees, SRBL Architects, and Bradford representatives, gathered to discuss budget goals, department priorities, and how advanced storage systems could contribute to their mission.
Barry Silverberg, Skokie’s Police Chief at the time of the renovation, made one thing clear—the first priority of the department was its people. “Employees truly appreciate it when you do things that helps them make their jobs easier,” he said. “What it boils down to in law enforcement is time savings and productivity. If you can create that, you’ll have higher morale and a higher level of service to the community.”
In line with this vision, the department focused on upgrading storage solutions, starting with the officers’ locker rooms. In the previous facility, storage was limited, leaving minimal space for personal and professional items. In response, over 140 configurable officer gear lockers were designed based on feedback from the department’s locker committee. Each two-foot-wide locker includes features like a bench that doubles as a drawer, adjustable full-width shelves, garment hangers for uniforms and personal clothing, modular electrical outlets for charging devices, and brackets for additional accessories.
Chief Silverberg praised the upgrade: “A well-designed locker greatly enhances the work environment. These lockers have been invaluable in boosting morale and productivity.”
The Skokie Tactical Intervention Unit (TIU) needed an agile, accessible storage solution for their essential equipment. To meet the requirements for readiness and accessibility, the department opted for 23 open-ended cubbies crafted from heavy-duty 4-post shelving. These cubbies provide easy, immediate access to critical items like weapons, helmets, shields, gas masks, and radios. Designed to handle fully loaded 130-pound tactical vests, this setup helps officers prepare efficiently for rapid response situations.
Evidence processing is a round-the-clock operation at Skokie’s police department, supported by 23 dedicated technicians. With the opportunity to optimize their storage, the department chose high-tech, pass-through evidence lockers. These lockers allow evidence to be dropped off from one side and retrieved from the secure Property & Evidence room, preserving the chain of custody.
For biological evidence, the lockers also feature four double-walled, refrigerated compartments to maintain the integrity of samples. Long-term evidence storage is managed with a high-density mobile system, which maximizes space and efficiently organizes the department’s growing inventory. With Skokie’s thriving retail sector, this flexible system accommodates large volumes of items, ensuring secure and accessible storage.
As Chief Silverberg noted, “The mobile system, combined with the evidence lockers, allows us to streamline our processes and manage evidence effectively. It’s about doing more with less—achieving simplicity without compromising quality.”
