[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1465 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1465

 Recognizing the work of the law enforcement officers in Lake County, 
 Illinois, their cooperative work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
 Firearms and Explosives agents, and expressing congressional support 
 for their ongoing work protecting Lake County communities from drugs 
                               and gangs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 18, 2008

Mr. Kirk submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the work of the law enforcement officers in Lake County, 
 Illinois, their cooperative work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
 Firearms and Explosives agents, and expressing congressional support 
 for their ongoing work protecting Lake County communities from drugs 
                               and gangs.

Whereas recent figures from the State of Illinois show a 3.1 percent increase in 
        serious crime in Lake County from 2005 to 2006, while there was a 1.7 
        percent drop in statewide violent and property crimes during the same 
        time period;
Whereas the recently created Northern Illinois Gang Taskforce coordinates 
        Federal and local law enforcement agencies to combat rising violence and 
        drug gangs operating in Lake County, Illinois;
Whereas the Northern Illinois Gang Taskforce allows local law enforcement to 
        pursue Federal prosecution and longer sentencing, increasing the 
        likelihood of low-level gang members, who now could face 20 years in 
        Federal prison without parole instead of less than five years in State 
        prison, turning against their gangs;
Whereas other regional law enforcement cooperative initiatives have been 
        launched to tackle the problem of rising crime, including the Lake 
        County Major Crimes Task Force and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group;
Whereas Congressman Mark Steven Kirk and Federal and local police teamed up 
        again in March, 2008, to launch Lake County's ``Top Ten Most Wanted 
        List'' to raise the public profile of fugitive gang leaders, and after 
        newspapers, radio, and television networks publicized the Wanted List 
        tips flooded in to law enforcement agencies resulting in the arrest of 
        three gang leaders;
Whereas last year the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the 
        Lake County State's Attorney Office, and the Waukegan Police Department 
        announced the conclusion of Operation ``Smack That,'' targeting the 
        heroin drug ring of the Black P-Stones, a gang involved in a 
        sophisticated drug operation--including selling drugs near Waukegan 
        public school and churches--based in Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion, 
        Illinois;
Whereas the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and 
        the Waukegan Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team (referred 
        to in this resolution as ``NET'') resulted in nine indictments and the 
        seizure of $19,000 worth of heroin, firearms, and body armor;
Whereas in the past year NET detectives have been involved in several dangerous 
        situations involving criminals, including--

    (1) an incident where a Latin King Gang member attempted to shoot 
members of NET;

    (2) an attempt by a suspect, during the execution of a search warrant, 
to pull a gun on members of NET and where the suspect was arrested after a 
brief struggle; and

    (3) the pursuit and arrest of a Maniac Latin Disciple Gang member, 
paroled just 10 days earlier, on foot through a city park with a loaded 
hand gun and where information had been obtained that this gang member was 
looking to shoot a police officer;

Whereas since 2006 the NET has been responsible for--

    (1) 869 gang and drug investigations;

    (2) 793 arrests;

    (3) executing 186 search warrants;

    (4) confiscating 145 guns from gang members and drug dealers;

    (5) seizing 91 kilos of cocaine, 109 pounds of marijuana, and 807 grams 
of heroin;

    (6) seizing over $462,000 in drug money; and

    (7) solving 43 gang shootings;

Whereas in March, 2007, North Chicago police completed ``Operation Eight Ball,'' 
        an eight month investigation into an open-air drug market in the 1300 
        block of Broadway Avenue;
Whereas Operation Eight Ball under cover agents risked their lives posing as 
        drug dealers and buyers to line up evidence against the criminals and 
        following their investigation six suspects were arrested after a 28-
        count indictment by a grand jury;
Whereas through the actions of the North Chicago Police Department, other local 
        departments, the Lake County Sheriff's office, and the Lake County 
        Metropolitan Enforcement Group, a menace to the community was 
        eliminated;
Whereas Detective Luis Rivera of the North Chicago Police Department Tactical 
        Narcotics Team exemplifies the outstanding service of North Chicago 
        Police officers; and
Whereas aside from fulfilling his duties as a narcotics and gang investigator, 
        Detective Rivera also serves on the North Chicago Police Department 
        Major Crime Evidence Team, as a firearms instructor, tech officer, bike 
        patrolman, and former SWAT officer and beyond his tireless dedication to 
        the department Detective Rivera has consistently displayed an 
        extraordinary commitment to his community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
excellent work of law enforcement officers in Lake County, Illinois--
including the Northern Illinois Gang Taskforce and the Waukegan Police 
Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team--and their cooperative work 
with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents.
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