With pensions, Medicaid and an
end-of-the-month adjournment on their minds, Illinois senators may not have
much interest in establishing yet another oversight panel for the East St.
Louis area.
But it's important that they enact
House Bill 1404, which would create a nonpaid oversight commission for the
police departments in East St. Louis, Brooklyn, Alorton and Washington Park.
The public's safety, in these communities and throughout the metro-east, should
improve because of it.
These communites have some of the
highest crime rates but are the least equipped to respond to it. In addition to
a lack of personnel and equipment they have histories of spotty leadership,
political interference and ethical issues. In the past year 18 felony charges
have been filed against law enforcers from these communities.
The result is that many criminals
are never caught or prosecuted. And since criminals are mobile, that can lead
to crime throughout the metro-east.
The commission would stress law
enforcement best practices and accountability in exchange for helping get more
resources for departments. If the communities want additional funds they will
have to follow the commission rules. For East St. Louis, one of the strings
attached to any money should be that bars and clubs close at a reasonable hour.
Even better than the oversight plan
are the people behind it. St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly and
U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton think this can be a way to improve the quality of
law enforcement and lower the crime rates. They have a stellar record of
creative solutions to longstanding problems, so this idea deserves a try. We
urge the state Senate to approve the bill