ROGER MONROE
Christmas came early for a lot of cities across the country as Congress handed out billions of dollars like M&M’s candy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Peoria received $47 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and decided to allocate $1.4 million to “cure violence.”
Six and only six local agencies and organizations were awarded the federal handouts to help prevent crime in the city. Among those standing in line for the financial gifts, paid for by taxpayers, was the Peoria City/County Health Department. Officials at the health department, in trying to justify their request for federal dollars, said “… crime is a health issue.” Perhaps. So are accidents and fatal accidents. So are fires, especially fatal fires. So are drug overdoses. As a former member of the health board, I find the involvement of this agency in fighting crime irrational.
It’s like an orthopedic surgeon deciding to pull teeth and fight cavities because they’re “health issues.” It makes no sense. The health department has no experience or credentials to “cure violence.” Yet, it was handed $400,000 by the City Council with a pat on the back and the battle call, “go fight crime.”
What the health department did was to make a call for crime fighting agencies to help them fight crime because they didn’t have the tools or the people.
In somewhat of an “I told you so,” the latest news is a crime fighting agency, Peoria Community Against Violence, is withdrawing from an apparent partnership with the health department due to a lack of funding. That agency has one purpose for existing and that’s to prevent violence. Adding to the silliness of the health department receiving $400,000, is news it’s been unable to find a partner to work with in fighting crime on the city’s South Side, one of the worse crime areas in Peoria.
Where was the city’s due diligence in handing out thousands of dollars? Did the health department lay out a “business plan” for examination and review by the committee given the responsibility to make sure proposals were sound and reasonably effective?
In discussing this subject on our morning radio show, “Breakfast with Roger and Friends” on WAZU-FM 90.7, one guest with years of experience in law enforcement suggested the need for stronger penalties for juveniles. Some people feel Juvenile Court judges are soft on crime. Historically, there’s been a desire to protect the privacy of youthful offenders. However, this is a different time. Today, we have kids 12 and 13 years of age walking around with loaded guns; big guns with magazines and they’re not “Readers Digest.”
In my opinion, I feel any kid found with a loaded weapon should receive a mandatory sentence of six months behind bars and if they shoot and wound someone, mandatory 2-3 years in a juvenile prison or academy. If we don’t have one, build one, because “they will come.” In a recent shooting, a 13-year-old killed a 17-year-old after shooting him three times in the head. Point blank. Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos wants the teen to be tried as an adult.
Peoria Public Schools received $300,000 to “cure violence.” Good luck on that effort. They’re having a hard time preventing violence in schools and at sporting events. I know older Americans who no longer go to the Peoria Stadium to watch high school football games for fear of violence or even getting shot.
Perhaps school officials should consider eliminating Quest Schools, another costly and academic experiment, and transition them into “training academies” where youthful offenders live, learn and eat. The time they spend in a type of “boot camp type of environment,” would depend on their offense. Teens 17 and older would be sent to adult facilities.
Personally, if I had been on the council, I would’ve voted to spend the $1.4 million on hiring more police and raising salaries. I would establish police sub-stations in high crime zones for quicker response times while building neighborhood relationships. Handing out more home security cameras in high crime areas might also be a deterrent.
This is an opinion column. Whether you agree or disagree, we can agree on one point: Peoria, like many cities, has a crime problem and we need to take action with thoughtful and reasonable action along with daily prayers for His intervention.
ON A HAPPY NOTE: Despite the violence, isn’t this a great part of the country to live in, especially this time of the year? As the hot days of summer gradually end, the leaves are turning to beautiful fall colors. Communities are alive with Riverfront events to the annual Pumpkin Festival and Spoon River Days in Fulton County.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “In autumn, don’t go to the jewelers to see gold, go to the parks.” — Mehmet Murat Ildan