Pubdate: Fri, 12 May 2006 Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL) Copyright: 2006sPeoria Journal Star Contact: http://pjstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338 Note: Does not publish letters from outside our circulation area. Author: Kate Hawley NEIGHBORS ARE SICK OF CRIME City officials, citizens discuss problems, need for more police presence PEORIA - Tom Deputy used to feel comfortable walking to his second-shift job at old Saint Francis Hospital, even in the dead of night. But by last fall, after a marked rise in drug use, shootings and gang activity in the area, he started driving. Deputy was one of a crowd of about 70 residents of Peoria's 2nd District that gathered Thursday evening at Franklin Edison School to talk with city officials about rising crime in their neighborhoods. "We are working on it intensely, but we don't have all the answers," said 2nd District City Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken. She urged the audience to share their concerns with her and with police. Sgt. Mike Eddlemon, Lt. Tom Burke and Capt. Mike Scally of the Peoria Police Department stood behind her. Shortly after the meeting began, Mayor Jim Ardis arrived. "I can tell you that there aren't too many days that go by that I don't get e-mails about crime," he told the crowd. "We're very aware of your concerns." A pilot program to test surveillance cameras is under way, he said. If these cameras prove a successful deterrent to crime, he will propose installing them throughout the city south of Forrest Hill Avenue, a project he estimated will take about $750,000. "I think it will pay for itself in a short period of time," he said. Eddlemon said there are programs aimed at targeting high crime areas, including a unit of 10 officers he heads called Problem-Oriented Policing. A hand shot up in the audience. "How do you get that?" a woman asked. They're not by request, Scally said. The chief makes his recommendation based on crime statistics. Complaints from residents in the crowd followed a similar theme: increasing numbers of people - mostly young men - are idling in the streets day and night, shouting profanities, selling drugs and contributing to the rash of shootings and other violent crimes. Many complained about drug houses. Gary Reed, a resident who urged Van Auken to hold the meeting, wanted to know why there was no police presence on his street, even after a shooting steps from his house last week. "I don't see one police car on the street." Scally said police are making a special effort to saturate high crime areas. Van Auken added that along with 3rd District City Councilman Bob Manning she will present a proposal for expanding saturation patrols this summer. "All of the council members I've talked to are willing to make this a high priority," she said. She also plans to expand the chronic nuisance code. Right now, it penalizes landlords if their tenants are involved in criminal activity. Her proposal also would penalize them for litter, peeling paint and old tires on the property. "We literally have a draft ordinance that we're reviewing," she said. Little things make a difference, Van Auken argued. "The truth is, we pay more attention to the speeders, the loud noises, the truants, the trash and litter, and you know what? We get some real serious crime stuff there." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman