New Program Targets City's Most Dangerous People, Seeks to Stop Gun Violence
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: April 24, 2012
Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies say gun violence in Peoria is out of hand.
But a brand new initiative is making its way throughout the community with a stronger approach to tracking and catching the city's most violent offenders.
For 32 year old Dan Smith, gun violence hits a little too close to home.
"I think it's gotten a little ridiculous and crazy," said Smith.
Three days ago a bullet came through the apartment he shares with his 62 year old mother located in the 300 block of River West.
"When they shot the gun it came into my bedroom and missed me by a couple of inches of going into my head," recalls Shirley Smith.
The incident happened in broad daylight, and the pair says it's a sign crime is getting worse.
"No place where you can go where you can just feel safe," said Smith.
But a new initiative is working to change that.
"We're going to identify who the worst of the worst violent offenders are," said Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard. "We're going to give them the attention they deserve."
It's called the "Peoria Most Violent Offender Program" and it's already led to the arrests of eight local men.
"Those arrests centered around gun violence," said Peoria County State's Attorney Jerry Brady. "There was a juvenile arrested as well."
While authorities aren't releasing program specifics, they say there's a clear cut strategy to finding dangerous people.
"We'll be looking at records of arrests, records of conviction, violence offences gun offenses," said Settingsgaard.
Authorities hope by catching these criminals in their tracks, they'll keep city streets safer.
The Peoria County State's Attorney says he wanted to get the program off the ground before summer.
That's when crime tends to surge in the city.
