NCJ Number
166558
Journal
Illinois State Police 10-43 Magazine Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (1996) Pages: 3-6
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
District 22 of the Illinois State Police encompasses the State's seven southernmost counties and one of its least populous areas and thus poses challenges with respect to maintaining modern police services.
Abstract
The area is called Little Egypt and is one of the State's poorest regions. The area has a decreasing population and virtually no local taxes to fund essential services. Towns and counties find it difficult to provide full-time law enforcement on their own. Fewer than five dozen individuals call themselves law enforcement officers; many police are part-time. Therefore, State troopers routinely handle matters such as domestic disturbances, bar fights, and other situations requiring the presence of a trained police officer. The troopers are also called for any accident involving personal injury or death. Despite the lack of law resources and shortage of law enforcement personnel, the State police regularly use approaches based on the modern concepts of community policing and regionalism. The area is not troubled by crack sales or street gangs, but bank robbery and underage drinking are significant problems that have required interagency cooperation and proactive efforts. Police agencies are coming together to discuss ways to pool resources to solve problems. The recent murder case solved by Trooper Eileen Rochford demonstrates how good communications with the people in the area can help solve crimes. Photographs and chart giving statistics on the area and the State police