Pubdate: Wed, 4 Nov 2009
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2009 Peoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Note: Does not publish letters from outside our circulation area.
Author: Andy Kravetz

CAN SHAME STOP DRUG DEALERS?

Residents Can Confront Alleged Dealers Through Drug Market
Intervention

PEORIA -- Local police and prosecutors want to give power back to the 
people who
live in crime-ridden neighborhoods and hope a new initiative will act
as a catalyst to reviving Peoria's urban core.

At a news conference Wednesday, Peoria police and State's Attorney
Kevin Lyons are expected to announce the arrests of about two dozen
people in the past week as part of the new Drug Market Intervention.
Then later in the day, residents can tell the alleged dealers what
their activities have done to the area.

Beyond the arrests, it is hoped a new partnership will be forged
between residents and law enforcement to stop new dealers from taking
root.

For weeks now, police have targeted alleged drug dealers in an area
roughly bounded by Western Avenue and Millman, Ann and Warren streets.
Rather than take them off the street one at a time, police waited
until this week to make the arrests. That, they hope, will create a
lull in drug sales and give the area a chance to catch its breath.

"We've been rounding up drug dealers for years now. We're going to now
try changing some drug dealers and try giving some relief to targeted
neighborhoods who have been smothered by open market drug sales. With
fingers crossed, we'll see how it goes," Lyons said.

The program began in North Carolina about five years ago and has been
making its way across the United States. The concept is that police
look at crime statistics and find an area that is besieged with drugs
and violence. Officers then sat down with prosecutors and looked over
the cases, said Assistant State's Attorney Seth Uphoff.

Those with extensive records, the bulk of the arrests, were charged
with felonies, but there are six who are relative novices to criminal
activity. They could go down a different path.

First off, they were told to be at a meeting at Neighborhood House,
where local residents can confront them. Then they were told their
case is on hold. Stay out of trouble for three years - the statute of
limitations - and they walk without any charges. Get into trouble and
the drug deals, which were caught on videotape, will be charged.

In addition, Uphoff said there was an anti-crime rally on Sunday as
well as a neighborhood cleanup on Saturday morning.

Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard sees this as a great chance for
Peoria.

"If a drug dealer quits the business and becomes a productive member
of society, that can reap huge benefits in the community long term,"
the chief said. "Multiply that impact over generations when the cycle
of drugs and violence is not passed on to children and grandchildren
and you can really see the potential.

"At the very worst, even if all of the DMI candidates were to fail and
re-offend, we still made solid cases and sent drug dealers to prison."

Beyond that, the chief hopes the program will change the perception
that some out there don't like police.

"Sure, there are some people who don't trust the police, but I have
met people from every part of the city who absolutely do trust the
police," he said. "As for those who don't, I hope that this program
will contribute to a change in attitudes about the police being
willing to look for alternatives to arrest and incarceration."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake