"Dont Shoot," it's the Police

David, you got work!

Author David Kennedy's "Don't Shoot: One Man, A Street Fellowship, and The End of Violence in Inner City America," is a Peoria Reads! Special Project, as well as the inspiration for a Peoria Police Department task force and public initiative called "Don't Shoot."

Published in 2011, Kennedy's book addresses violence through a program that brings gang members to the negotiating table, and intensifies police focus on crime hot spots, in order to prevent deadly shootings.

Kennedy is tentatively scheduled to visit Peoria in late August, and will meet with city officials.

In late June, the Peoria Police Department initiated a task force aimed at reducing gun violence. It was the third year in a row for the task force, and came at the end of an especially brutal stretch of gunplay, in which the city saw 50 percent of the year's gun violence take place in six weeks - from May 9, to June 20. Source

By the numbers
A violent crime task force that is part of a major anti-street violence initiative called Don't Shoot has been saturating crime hot spots since mid-June. Below are the results from June 20 through Aug. 13. Source

- 1,616: Traffic stops
- 604: Traffic citations
- 129: Municipal ordinance violations
- 202: Vehicle impounds
- 477: Arrests
- 33: Guns
- $29,751: Cash
- 1,175: Grams of marijuana
- 64: Grams of crack
- 34: Ecstasy tablets
- 20: Grams of heroin

Citizen Alert - north Peoria

Interesting that this guy manages to get really close to his victims. Let go of the stereotypes people, be street smart and stay safe.

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The Peoria Police Department is investigating a rash of armed and attempted armed robberies occurring in business parking lots throughout north Peoria.

In each instance, a subject has approached lone females as they enter their vehicle. The suspect usually displays a handgun and demands money and then flees the area on foot. On one occasion, the suspect forced a victim to drive to an ATM where he forced her to withdraw funds.

The date, time, and locations of these robberies or robbery attempts are as follows:
Oct 23, 1312 Hrs Walgreens – 2515 N Knoxville
Oct 25, 2159 Hrs Krogers – 3311 N Sterling
Oct 25, 1940 Hrs Walmart – 8915 N Allen Road
Oct 29, 1927 Hrs Dairy Queen – 8530 N Knoxville
Oct 29, 1932 Hrs Busey Bank – 6699 N Sheridan Road

Although there have been no injuries, on each occasion the suspect has either displayed or inferred a handgun and covers his face by means of a hooded sweatshirt or wearing a Halloween style mask, similar to a white hockey mask.

The suspect is believed to be a white male, age unknown, 5’9”, 150 pounds, brown or light shaggy hair.

Citizens are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious persons or activity to the Peoria Police Department.

The Peoria Police Department urges anyone possessing any knowledge of these incidents to contact the Peoria Police Department at 673-4521 or Crime Stoppers at 673-9000.

Source