Peoria Sheriff’s Department and police join federal gun taskforce
Peoria police and Peoria Sheriff’s department are now members of the law enforcement task force formed to combat gun crime in Peoria.
The Peoria area Federal Firearms Task force is comprised of officers and agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Peoria Police Department, Peoria county Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, and parole unit of Illinois Department of Corrections.
A federal prosecutor is also assigned to the taskforce.
“Last year the Peoria Police Department was able to reduce gun violence by 28%, but that is not enough,” said Peoria police Chief Eric Echevarria in a news release. “The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force is another example of how our department is using every resource and partnership available to reduce gun violence. The task force is now based at the Peoria police department, streamlining the process for identifying, investigating and charging violent offenders on a federal level.
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Peoria’s gun crime rate was on the rise, reaching a peak of homicides in 2021. Guns were a major factor in many of them. According to the press release, this federal task force is aimed at reducing the use of fully-automatic guns and machineguns in the Peoria region.
The taskforce says that their investigations have already led them to seize a 3-D Printer that was used for making weapon mods that convert non-automatic firearms into automatic guns.
Task force also targets “Straw Purchasers” – people who buy guns on behalf of others.
“The Illinois State Police is a committed member of the Peoria Area Task Force and is focused on getting illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly in the news release. “The collaborative effort between ISP, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and the justice system is helping make our communities safer.”
A news release stated that a key tool for the taskforce will be the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. This is a national database which tracks firearms involved in crimes.
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The NIBIN Program automates the ballistics evaluations of shooting scenes by comparing the shell casing evidence. This enables law enforcement agencies to link shootings within their jurisdiction to those in neighboring jurisdictions as well as to other shootings across the country.
As the leader of the taskforce, federal prosecutor Gregory K. Harris.
“Reducing gun violence in our communities requires cooperation, commitment, and determination,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris in the news release. “Collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners is one of the most effective ways to combat violent gun crime.”
