Businesses worry about rising crime downtown after latest violent outburst at Millennium Park

by SAFE Winnebago County | May 26, 2022 | Chicago Crime, Illinois News, News & Events

CHICAGO (CBS) — With an increase in downtown violence, businesses fear it will scare customers away. Just last night, an off-duty Cook County Sheriff’s deputy working security in Millennium Park shot a man who had opened fire in the park. The scene...

Illinois set to fund police co-responder program with $10 million

by SAFE Winnebago County | May 13, 2022 | Illinois News, News & Events

Kristi Blokhin | Shutterstock.com (The Center Square) – A $10 million pilot program could soon start that will require social service providers and police officers in certain jurisdictions to work together to better handle certain situations when responding to a 911...

Violent crime rose nearly 40 percent in Aurora from 2019 through 2021; driven by aggravated assaults

by SAFE Winnebago County | May 13, 2022 | Chicago Crime, Crime Statistics, Illinois News, News & Events

Wirepoints recently reported on how Illinois’ fifth-biggest city of Rockford is struggling to contain violent crime. It’s up 26 percent since 2019. A look at the numbers in Aurora shows that Illinois’ second-largest city is in the same situation. City data shows that...

State’s attorneys say they’re concerned about end of cash bail

by SAFE Winnebago County | Apr 29, 2022 | Chicago Crime, Illinois Crime, Illinois News, News & Events

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGEM) – The elimination of cash bail is fast approaching for Illinois following the passage of the SAFE-T act in January 2021. Some judges have even begun the transition to no cash bail, but prosecutors are saying no cash bail will make their...

Only 15-percent of carjackers in Chicago have been arrested, study says

by SAFE Winnebago County | Apr 29, 2022 | Chicago Crime, Illinois Crime, Illinois News, News & Events

CHICAGO – City leaders blame the recent surge in carjackings on bored young people looking for trouble, and the Chicago Police Department says juveniles make up nearly 60-percent of carjacking arrests. However, one local expert from the University of...

Illinois budget sweeps $5 million from 911 fund, concerning law enforcement

by SAFE Winnebago County | Apr 29, 2022 | Illinois Crime, Illinois News, News & Events

  (The Center Square) – The new budget Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed sweeps $5 million out of the statewide 9-1-1 fund to start up a new number for mental health emergencies. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) say the sweep was done without the...