Pop teams aren’t going anywhere … I think
If you happened to be listening to WCBU-FM broadcast of Tuesday night’s Peoria City Council budget meeting, you might have came away with the idea that the city’s “Problem Oriented Policing” program just might be on the table as they discussing cutting the budget.
After all, City Council member Clyde Gully seemed intent on discussing whether or not it makes more sense to divert money spent on POP officers to street crime units or more “sweeps” of high crime areas.
And we did hear Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard say that there are solid numbers that show success of sweeps — cars impounded, citations issues, arrests made, etc. — while the successes of POP officers are difficult to measure because so much of their job includes preventing incidents from happening.
Settingsgaard also pointed out that while POP officers are assigned to small, targeted areas. Street crime units are more flexible as they word anywhere and everywhere in the city.
We also heard Mayor Jim Ardis say that council shouldn’t micromanage so much and let the Police and Fire departments decide on their own how to best do their jobs.
If you heard all that and came away thinking: “Oh, my God, they are thinking about eliminating the POP officers,” you are not alone. That was my conclusion, too.
But I’m hearing now that it was all idle talk. The POP officers aren’t going anywhere. First, the pop officers provide valuable information to other officers when these kind of sweeps happen. POP officers, because the cover such small areas, become very familiar with the bad actors in a way that regular patrol officers do not.
Also, I’m guessing that the popularity of the POP officer program alone will keep Settingsgaard from requesting the POP officers be re-assigned. Council members need the good will of the affected neighborhood organizations to keep their jobs. And Settingsgaard needs the good will of the council to keep his.
And I’m not convinced that Settingsgaard would even seriously consider eliminating the program. POP officers may not generate alot of ticket revenue or impound fees, but their sure do help neighborhood organizations fight back against urban decay.
Still, I’d be surprised if no one asks for even more POP officers during today’s crime forum, which will be broadcast live on WEEK, WMBD, WHOI and WTVP.
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 
There is success when you put more officers on the ground. All these efforts point clearly that more officers work. Now… what are we doing? We are relocating officers from one part of the city to another to get something done. So what about the areas that see a decline in police presence? The Chief is doing what he can and making the best of it. But… it is just whack a mole enforcement. While they are busy one place, trouble just relocates. I am sorry but that isn’t good enough. My neighborhood and others like it don’t deserve to be shafted while someone gets what they paid for. I am not faulting the Chief on this. We simply need more officers. We need to eliminate the moles, not play games with them.
It wouldn’t solve all our problems, but if $100,000 since May for saturation patrols has been such a success, selling the Kellar Branch to Pioneer Railcorp for $565,000 would allow us to continue financing that effort for another five years. I know I’m like a one-string fiddle here, but dang it, why is the council throwing money away?! This madness has got to stop.
Are we just now figuring out that there needs to be more police presence in the “bad” parts of town as compared to the lower crime rate areas? If you think that these areas have a lower crime rate because of the amount of police officers in the area, then you are severely mistaken. It is solely based on the types of people that inhabit these areas of town. The southside is just a horrible place to live, and this is because of the worthless criminals that terrorize this part of town. You could not pay me enough money to raise my children on the southside, or for that matter, in 90% of Peoria.
I agree with you Bill – except I raised that to 100%.
CJ: I think only half of that $100,000 has been spent to date. From the PJS: “I don’t know if we’ll see dollar for dollar, but I think the city will recoup a great deal,” Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard told the council Tuesday, noting that only half of the $100,000 has been spent.
Bill E.: you are full of shit. I have raised children here in the southend and have been here for over 24 years. I have had no crime other than a break in (not my house) or dope sale here or there. Consider in the Knolls, where my mom lives, her garage has been broken into twice over the years and they have found stolen cars parked on her street. Want drugs? Anywhere in Peoria they can be bought and that includes Limestone and Dunlap. It is people, like you, that stereotype a whole area. It seems that you don’t live in Peoria by your last statement. Tell me, where do you live? Mars?
As for this TV forum, grab your popcorn and watch the circus. It has hand picked contestants and questions. Whoppdee do. Wait, it’s an election year. Same old same old. Lip service.
I agree Bill, well said!
You are right about one thing Emtronics, I do not live in Peoria anymore, and part of the reason is because of people like you. Are you really going to defend these criminals? How can you argue that the south side is equivalent in crime to a place such as Dunlap? Either you are one of the most ignorant people I’ve ever met, or you are one of these lowlife pieces of scum that I am refering to. Of course there are drugs and petty crimes commited in even the smallest towns, but that surely does not equate to the criminal activity that happens on the southside of Peoria. The fact that you live there and still can not see the problem, absolutely blow my mind. I would think that you would be the first one to say that somthings gotta change. If this logic is stereotyping as you say, then so be it. Sir, I could not walk on your streets after dark without a damn good chance of being mugged or assaulted. In fact I have been robbed on the southside, when one of your fine upstanding citizens jumped through the passenger window of my car at a stop light, took my keys out of the ignition, and proceeded to rob myself and my passenger. I do not have these worries when I am in surrounding communities. Call it whatever you want, but I believe it is people like you who perpetuate this cycle of vioelence and crime, although it may be indirectly. You should want better for yourself and your family. You should should be the voice of reason in your community, not sit here and say “I have had no crime other than a break in (not my house) or dope sale here or there.” Just because your house isn’t getting broken into every night does not mean that the crime isn’t there. I don’t care what you say, the southside is a cesspool of filth and crime and it is an example of everything that is wrong with todays society
Well I was going to apologize for calling you “full of shit” That wasn’t right because everyone here has an opinion and I should respect yours also, but, you are indeed a sack of shit. Ever lived in the southend? Ever lowered yourself to come to the southend? Doubt it. Not eberyone in the south end is a criminal and NOT ALL CRIMINALS live in the southend. Yes we do have our problems but no more than the northend or esatbluff. People like me that perpetuate this cycle of vioelence?? You are a nut. The area I live in, know as Garden City is pretty much crime free. Yes, you can walk the sidwalks at night. It is NOT the HARRISON HOMES as***ole. I stand by my statement you narrow minded bigot.
Hey now, I just read about a crime in dunlap…Some 80 year old women had the audacity to walk a beagle without a leash in a public park. We better start a ceasefire petition to get this to stop.
But really, all areas have their issues. But, not all people in the southend are bad citizens. I am sure there are plenty of hard working individuals in the southend that make a difference in society. Its just that many of the bad apples make the news stories. Very rarely…until recently, was there good press about the southend. And thats one thing that continues to perpetuate that this is a bad area full of criminals. When in reality, there are a few good people over there.
Thank you Silence
There are good people in every neighborhood. There are some just some areas that have been infected with 2-legged slime balls and the good people who live there want the bad ones out. Fleeing to Dunlap is only a short term fix, as crime and social problems spread and will follow. The war for Peoria’s older neighborhoods is real and ongoing. The good people who are fighting to reclaim their neighborhoods need support.
Conrad: I don’t think some people understand what you posted. (i.e. Bill E) but you are right. Yes the southend does have its resident criminals but then as any police officer will tell you, criminals can live anywhere. Believe it or not, there are people who care about their neighborhoods and their investment in their property to stand up and do something about it. We each take our little corner in life and try to improve on it. Could I move? Yes I could but I am not because I enjoy where I’m at. Does my part of the southend have troubles? Yes it does but I stay and try and do something about it. To call me a person “who perpetuate this cycle of vioelence and crime” because I stick up for and defend my neighborhood is a sign of ignorence. I respect and thank you for your good comment on this issue. I have a saying: “You can’t fix stupied.”
How do you know what race I am? I have never stated anything in these posts about race, but now I am a bigot. If I don’t agree with your point of view, and condemn the amount of crime and worthless individuals that live in the southside, then I must be a white, cross burning racist. Why must the race card always be played when presenting an argument? When was the last time you “lowered yourself” and went to Pekin? Not lately? So that must mean that you are a bigot as well. I don’t frequent the southside because i fear for my safety, not because I am a racist. Of course every city does have there own problems with crime, and I am not trying to say that there are not some good people who also live in the southend. My point is that the ratio of criminals to decent citizens is much higher than other communities. How many businesses in Morton have bars over there windows? How many homicides have been comitted in Pekin? How many prostitutes and drug dealers do you see walking the streets in Washington? Now lets take a look at the southside of Peoria. You cannot deny this, it is a proven fact. If I am a racist for not wanting my family living around this filth, then so be it. Lets see, where would I rather my children go to school, Manual or somewhere like East Peoria or Morton. Now that is a tough question. As I stated in my first post, I was generally refering to the whole city of Peoria, but my point is exemplified in the southside. Let me tell you my friend, the Harrison Homes are not the only dangerous part of the southside. Are you living in a bubble? You can call me whatever you want, but it only proves your ignorance to label me a racist for denouncing the crime that takes place in the southside. If this is the case, then I hope that there are many more “bigots” out there beside me.
lol, you are right emtronics. You just can’t fix stupied.
I don’t doubt that you are a good person emtronics, and I understand that you like you neighborhood and want to stay. i wouldn’t want to be pushed out of my neighborhood by thugs either. What i meant by perpetuating the cycle, is that the few good people out there must do something. You can not take the attitude that its not happening to me, so it must not be that bad. Because it is. You and only you are going to be able to change the way it is. You cannot rely on people like me, or the government, to do anything about it. The fact is that we just don’t care enough. We do not and never will reside there. I think that it is a shame, but will I ever really make a difference and doing something about it, probably not. If it were my neighborhood you bet your ass I would do whatever it took to push these criminals out.
Bill Bill Bill, I don’t know who you are directing the racist comments to but I never assumed anything about your race. Bigots come in all colors. By the way, I go to Pekin all the time, deal with the high school there. East Peoria high by the way, has its drug problems also. Want good drugs? Go to Limestone. I can’t tell you here how I know this but I do. I have had a crack house right across the street from me, nice house too. Built in the 60’s. Looks like it could have been anywhere in Peoria. I stood and took pictures of every single customer that went in. Sometimes this meant that I had to get close. With every picture I also took one of their license plate and sent them off to the police. Over 50 in total. I worked with the local undercover agents and after 6 months of city council meetings, city hall visits, threats, and calling the police, they busted the place and house was gone. It has since beem bought by a wonderful young couple and they rehab the place and now its another nice home on the block. Help a neighbor do the same 3 blocks over. My point, I didn’t expect the government or anyone to come in and do it for me. I expected the police to act according to the law and they did. You don’t know me and I still take your previous comments about the southend as ignorant. Whoppe do, you got robbed. I got my car broke into and the radio ripped out of the dash at the Rave motion picture out by the Grand Prairie. According to your logic, I should avoid the filthy area and diss anyone who lives there. After all, we down here are all in a bubble. This isn’t my first Christmas. Take your head out of your backside and look around.
So…The Bears might have a good season eh.?
Yeah … this conversation is now offocially dead. Let’s hope it doesn’t get carried into any other posts.