Chief Mike McClain, Elmhurst’s police chief, told the Committee of the Whole on Oct. 27 that the Elmhurst Police Department’s proposed 2026 budget centers on recruitment and retention, traffic safety, technology‑based crime suppression, community policing and officer wellness.

McClain said the department sought to keep day‑to‑day services steady while advancing a multi‑year police‑station project. “The largest lift for the police department in 2026 … will be working with the city team and contracted firms to complete the architecture and engineering of the police station project during the estimated 12 month time frame,” he said. The 2026 budget includes $3,250,000 for architecture and engineering and minor work to prepare 180 West Park as a temporary facility, and a planning placeholder of $44,750,000 for future moving and construction costs.

Why it matters: the station project is the largest single capital item the police department presented. McClain said staff will develop operational plans, site‑specific feedback and a full planning document while attempting to maintain service levels during any move.

Department activity and grants: McClain reported that, as of Sept. 1, the department had responded to 31,155 incidents (about a 1% increase year‑over‑year). He said the department filed 297 felony charges and 517 misdemeanor charges year‑to‑date, and reported 162 crimes against persons and 335 property crimes in the same span. Traffic collisions were roughly flat year‑to‑date at 952. The department issued about 7,000 traffic violation citations and 7,196 parking citations.

On grant funding, McClain told council that Elmhurst received about $407,000 in FY2026 grants: $184,000 toward body‑worn camera costs, a $48,000 Illinois Attorney General grant covering ALPR licensing and an additional ALPR camera, $119,000 from the Illinois Department of Transportation for sustained traffic enforcement and a $55,000 IDOT DUI training grant.

FOIA, body‑camera videos and records staffing: McClain said Freedom of Information Act requests have surged, especially requests for body‑worn camera video. “Since 2021, the Elmhurst Police Department has seen a 360% increase in FOIA requests,” he said, adding that about half of recent requests are for body‑camera footage. McClain said August alone produced 67 FOIA requests for body‑camera recordings.

To address redaction and release workload he proposed funding a part‑time records clerk—converting an unfilled part‑time police officer slot to a records position—“in a revenue neutral fashion,” McClain said, rather than adding net new headcount. Councilmembers asked how much video redaction and FOIA processing costs would grow if national demand for online footage continues; McClain and staff said pending state legislative fixes are being pursued but a records position is needed under current law.

Technology, overtime and staffing: council members asked why license‑plate readers, drones and other technology have not reduced staffing costs. McClain answered that those tools make investigations more effective but often increase staff time needed to process and prosecute cases. He cited a court rule change that increased required in‑person court appearances for DUI cases—tripling overtime for those court appearances compared with the prior on‑call approach—as a driver of higher overtime costs.

Fleet and equipment: the department plans several vehicle replacements in 2026 and is testing an electric Chevrolet Blazer as a traffic enforcement vehicle after using it in an administrative role. McClain said the Blazer will be reconfigured for traffic enforcement to test acceleration, range and prisoner‑transport logistics.

Drones and regional collaboration: McClain described early county‑level work on a DuPage County “drone as first responder” pilot that would place drones strategically and have them dispatched via DuComm to 911 calls. He said the county would likely fund the program and Elmhurst could host a drone to ensure local coverage, but integration and safety testing remain in early stages.

Budget status and next steps: the presentation was informational; the council asked questions but did not take formal action. McClain said the department will continue to apply for grants to defray technology and equipment costs and will develop the police station planning documents during 2026.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article: Chief Mike McClain; Mayor Lehi; Aldermen Virgil, Brennan, Tallulah, Brennan and others who participated in Q&A.

Ending note: the police presentation highlighted a combination of grant‑funded technology, a growing FOIA workload tied to body‑worn video, and a multi‑year capital project that will be the department’s largest budgetary item if the station construction is advanced.