Increased PPD protection for folks in the Bradley-Moss neighborhoods (e.g., "the area around Bradley University")

The Peoria Police will immediately be kicking up patrols around Bradley University until March 2012, thanks to a grant that was received by Bradley University. Although the patrols are billed as "additional party patrols and DUI enforcement", I'm sure the folks who live in the area are pleased to know that there will be increased patrols, because they have been experiencing increased rates of crime on and around the Bradley campus.

By the way, crime in other parts of the City  (East Bluff & South end ) continues to be wild! In Harrison Homes on Sunday, two people were stabbed, the police had to ram an apartment door in to get inside, did you hear about that? Several people were shot over the weekend, there was a blip about that; someone was stabbed last night on Starr, did you hear about that?

The news story below does not indicate whether Peoria Police will be hiring additional officers to work the area "around Bradley University"; or if they will be pulled from other parts of the City (where folks are getting beat, mugged and shot on a more consistent basis); or will they be offered the opportunity to take advantage of working overtime to earn money for the holidays, even though they are already worn out? One would have thought that Bradley's Campus Police would take care of "campus party patrols and DUI enforcement".

Grant to pay for increased patrols near Bradley University

Peoria Police will be conducting additional party patrols and DUI enforcement activities starting Halloween weekend and continuing until the end of March. The majority of the enforcement will take place around Bradley University. WEEK News 25 reports school officials say the enforcement will be funded by the Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws grant. Bradley applied for the grant in an effort to decrease alcohol abuse on campus. Source

The above Incident Report was done on PPD Crime View; 1/4 mile radius around

Bradley University; for the period 8/1/2011 - 10/28/2011 (89 days).

Letter sent to Bradley Scout from student concerned about safety

October 28th, 2011 - "I don’t feel safe on campus, and unfortunately, I’m not the only one.

I’ve always been super paranoid about walking around on and off campus at night by myself and try to avoid it as much as possible. However, it’s starting to look like I need to be cautious walking around campus by myself in broad daylight.

In the last month, there have been several incidences where a student was robbed on or just off campus before sunset. One was even alarmingly close to noon." Read entire letter here.