Rockford Police Enact New Strategy To Tackle Crime
By: Mary Jo Ola
Updated: June 13, 2012
Rockford - More officers on the street and targeting repeat offenders, that's the newest strategy police officers are using to tackle crime in the Forest City.
The department added eight detectives to its Career Criminal Unit. They'll patrol areas Police Chief Chet Epperson describes as places of chaos. The strategy is in response to two murders at a pair of gas stations on Auburn Street last month. "Two murders within two days apart, that's certainly the individuals that live in that particular area" says Epperson. "Not only that for the victims of crime it's certainly an opportunity for the police department to address something diligently."
Epperson adds he and his officers are working closely with the State's Attorney and U.S. Attorney's offices, to arrest repeat offenders and make sure they're sentenced to prison for a long time.
The department added eight detectives to its Career Criminal Unit. They'll patrol areas Police Chief Chet Epperson describes as places of chaos. The strategy is in response to two murders at a pair of gas stations on Auburn Street last month. "Two murders within two days apart, that's certainly the individuals that live in that particular area" says Epperson. "Not only that for the victims of crime it's certainly an opportunity for the police department to address something diligently."
Epperson adds he and his officers are working closely with the State's Attorney and U.S. Attorney's offices, to arrest repeat offenders and make sure they're sentenced to prison for a long time.
