Benign neglect on Peoria’s venerable East Bluff
The East Bluff has struggled for years to get rid of crime.
The latest act of violence, Saturday’s deadly shooting of 44-year old Brian Alexander, has some neighbors angry at each other.
“Some other neighbors did hear a gunshot, but apparently no one called 911 because his body wasn’t found until 8 in the morning,” says neighbor Nancy Mitchell.
And that has stunned Nancy and Richard Mitchell, because their good friend and long time neighbor died just feet away from their own doorstep.
“Why didn’t they call? Why didn’t they call the police department?” Nancy says.
“We’ll never know what a neighbors involvement could have helped or not,” says Nancy’s husband, Richard Mitchell.
I’ll explain one reason no one called: It probably would not have resulted in a visit by a police officer. I speak from authority here, folks. I know people who used to live in this very neighborhood (this was about 5-7 years ago), and they say that then they or neighbors would call the police to report gunshots, the police dispatcher would actually argue with them. ‘It’s probably just fireworks. How could you tell the difference.’
This attitude reflects one or two things, perhaps both:
1. City employees can be just as stupid and lazy as any private sector workers, and;
2. There just might be an “understanding” at the time that the city wanted to drive out residents of the area to make room for the spiffy new shopping center called Midtown Plaza.
Whatever the reason, people get the message. When the city ignores you calls to report gunfire, you learn that the city doesn’t really give a rats ass if residents of that neighborhood get shot.
It’s just not a priority, folks. I guess they figure that all the animals will kill each other off. Problem is, these “animals” are people too, and sometimes the victims are innocent people who have dedicated their lives to making sick people all better.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Interesting post, sir. Sounds rather analagous to the UK’s pre Thatcher “Winter of Our Discontent.” Thanks very much for linking to me.