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On crime…
During the administration of Mayor Tim Davlin,
Springfield’s crime problem — drug use, juvenile violence,
unsolved homicides — has been ignored, says challenger Bruce Strom.
On Feb. 8, Strom, a three-term alderman, outlined a plan to address crime
and reorganize the Springfield Police Department.
Bruce Strom • Wants to reestablish the SPD’s
major-case unit and the gang task force and assign two Springfield police
officers to the Sangamon County Drug Investigation Response Team so the
city and county can share resources in battling the drug problem in
Springfield. Strom is also calling for the release of the 2,300-page
Illinois State Police investigation of detectives Jim Graham and Paul
Carpenter and has filed Freedom of Information Act requests with Davlin and
ISP director Larry Trent. • On paying for SPDreorganization: “My
plan for realigning the Springfield Police Department will not need
additional funding. This is simply putting our resources where they
are needed. It is about identifying priorities and responding effectively.
We must solve these murders, we must get a handle on youth violence, and we
must win the fight against drugs in Springfield.”
• Furthermore: “I am committed to not
raising taxes or fees. I stated that during my announcement some weeks
back and continue to believe that we can accomplish a great deal without
again turning to the hardworking men and women of Springfield.”
Tim Davlin • Just-approved fiscal year 2008 budget includes
money for 40 new police cruisers. Davlin refuses to comment on or release a
copy of the ISP investigation of detectives Graham and Carpenter. • On Strom’s plan: “He doesn’t
have a plan; he’s got a press release. He’s got to come up with
a plan — what taxes or fees he’s going to raise to come up with
the money. If he comes up with a way to pay for it, those are wonderful,
wonderful ideas.”
• How Davlin plans to fight crime: “We are
at our lowest unemployment rate in 8 years right now — you can fight
crime a different way. One way is to make sure you have as many people
employed as you possibly can. That’s different than putting police on
the streets, but there are statistics that show if you lower unemployment,
you lower the crime rate.”
Citizens decide elections. For this reason, from now
until Election Day, we will let candidates explain in their own words where
they stand the on issues that matter to you. Let us know your issues.
Contact R.L. Nave at rnave@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2007.
