Belvidere law enforcers talk drugs and gangs at Chamber of Commerce event

Both States Attorney Candidates speak out

Belvidere law enforcers talk drugs and gangs at Chamber of Commerce event

By Susan Vela
Staff writer

Posted Feb. 25, 2016 at 9:09 PM
Updated Feb 25, 2016 at 10:15 PM

BELVIDERE — Kathy Reed wants to protect her 13-year-old grandson from gangs.

The Poplar Grove grandmother was among about 50 people who attended a morning presentation on gangs and drugs in Boone County at the Boone County Council on Aging. The presentation, a Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Before Business event, featured Belvidere Police Sgt. Dave Dammon, Belvidere Police Sgt. of Detectives Matt Wallace and Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier. They provided some things for parents and grandparents to look for if they want to keep their youngest relatives free of the gang culture.

Reed intends to take notes on her grandson's clothing. Wearing the latest styles and similar colors often is a common indicator of gang involvement

“And I want to learn more about his friends,” she said.

Typically, gang members are male, 11 to 24 years old, and of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

“You've got to keep them out of gangs,” said Dammon, who advised parents and grandparents to keep their children and grandchildren busy with school activities. “If they don’t go into them, then you don’t have to deal with them.”

Representatives from Boone County’s criminal justice system said Courier’s successful 2010 lawsuit against gang members, requiring them to pay $14,518, plus court costs, diminished the problem greatly.

Since Courier proved during the litigation that the Latin Kings’ gang activity cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, the number of gang members has dropped to about 50 in 2015, compared to the peak of 385 in 2008, according to the Belvidere Police Department.

Gang graffiti reports numbered 289 in 2015, compared to the peak of 690 in 2008.

“Drugs don’t exist without gangs. Gangs don’t exist without drugs,” Courier said. “The Belvidere Police Department chief once said if you were to eliminate gangs and drugs in the city of Belvidere, you’d eliminate 65 percent of the crime. So, directly and indirectly, gang activity affects Belvidere and Boone County.”

In the last year and a half, Courier said she has prosecuted gang members aggressively and been more likely to charge juveniles as adults.

Tricia Smith, Courier’s opponent in the March 15 Republican primary, was in today’s chamber audience. The former Boone County Board member spent nearly six years as a Rockford police officer. She has worked as both an assistant state's attorney and a defense attorney.

Smith said Courier overstated her success with local gang activity.

She used it as a platform for her political campaign,” Smith said. “Studies have shown that the only time you can make a difference is in juvenile delinquent court. By the time they’re adult, it’s too late.”

The Belvidere Police Department released this week its 2015 annual report, which indicates 430 incidents of drug and narcotics offenses, an 11 percent drop compared to 485 in 2014. The drop would have been greater, Smith said, if Courier and local law enforcers were as successful at diminishing the gang problem as they say.

Terrance Smith, president of R&D Thiel, approached Dammon after the presentation and asked him to visit his company to educate employees about gang activity.

“I also want him to take a look around,” Smith said. “You never know.”

Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela

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