East Aurora Successfully Targets Gangs
Pam Bradley, Weed and Seed Site Coordinator
Aurora police arrest a suspected gang member. |
In 2004, the number of gang-related
shootings in the East Aurora Weed and Seed area increased dramatically.
The shooting victims' families joined politicians, law
enforcement officials, and the community as a whole to demand
effective measures to prevent this violence. Law enforcement
took the initial lead to "weed" out the problem
so that other "seeding" responses could take place.
In March 2005, the Aurora Police Department and the Kane
County Sheriff's Office entered into an informal cooperative
agreement to implement the Gang Apprehension and Suppression
Project. The project's goal is to inform anyone who participates
in street gang activity that the community has zero tolerance
for violence, zero tolerance for narcotics, and zero tolerance
for any behavior that even remotely suggests gang influence.
As part of the project, teams of officers from the police
department and the sheriff's office go to the known addresses
of gang members who are wanted on warrants and attempt to serve
them. Officers ride together so that jurisdictional boundaries
cannot hinder the gang enforcement initiative; this approach
also enhances cooperation and communication between the agencies.
Many gang members moved outside Aurora to evade the project.
Even when they were not able to serve the warrants, officers
believed they had communicated the "zero tolerance" message.
The collaborative efforts resulted in 47 warrants served,
46 traffic stops, 25 traffic citations, and 9 felony and 5
misdemeanor arrests. In addition to surveillance of gang members' houses,
and the arrest of a known Latin King gang member, Weed and
Seed officers completed two neighborhood "knock and talks."
Since the project began, shootings have dropped 60 percent.
Community and neighborhood groups are reacting very positively
and say they are pleased with the operation. The Kane County
Sheriff's Office and the Aurora Police Department plan to continue
their collaborative efforts through September 2005, with help
from the U.S. Marshal's Service and the Kane County Major
Crime Task Force, to conduct a sweep of additional warrants
for serious violent offenses in the Weed and Seed area.
The entire project cost $160,000; of that amount, $40,000
was funded by Weed and Seed and $120,000 was funded by the
Aurora Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff's Office. When
the project ends, it will be evaluated by the Weed and Seed
Law Enforcement Subcommittee to determine whether it should
continue or whether a new weeding project for the area should
begin.
As another part of the Gang Apprehension and Suppression
Project, Aurora will hold the Summer Anti-Violence Event (S.A.V.E.)—a
gang awareness program. A panel will include representatives
from the clergy, law enforcement, state government, a community
group, and the Kane County State's Attorney's
Office. The Aurora Police Department's Special Gang
Unit will present a slideshow of gang signs, clothing, graffiti,
colors, and other gang indicators so that parents, youth, grandparents,
and other residents can be aware of possible gang activity
in their neighborhoods and homes.
For further information, contact:
Pam
Bradley
Weed and Seed Site Coordinator for East Aurora, IL
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