POLICE SHOULD RUN DRUG TRAPS, NOT SPEED TRAPS

I received an e-mail from an old friend in Chicago, titled
"Congratulations - You're #1," in reference to Peoria's place in the
state crime statistics. Chicago was rated No. 4. She ended her e-mail
by asking, "Well, shall we take our lives in our hands and venture a
visit to Peoria soon?"

Is the whole city of Peoria in denial about crime on its streets, in
its neighborhoods? Well, our Police Chief John Stenson seems to be,
if he believes what he said in a public radio interview July 16. Many
citizens have tried to rouse the police to the enormity of the crime
problems in Peoria. One of these days, perhaps, the citizens will be
able to awaken him and our City Council to the fact that drug sales
are being transacted under the bright light of the noon-day sun in
older neighborhoods. Yet the police seem quite satisfied to hide
behind bushes and nab motorists, one after another. At $75 a ticket
the city has filled its coffers big time!

Perhaps Chief Stenson should deploy some of his crack crime stoppers
to hide behind some bushes around the corner of Woodlawn and Lincoln
and hand out some $75 tickets to our daylight drug pushers.

Marilyn Copp Peoria