110 HRES 1465 IH: Recognizing the work of the law enforcement U.S. House of Representatives 2008-09-18 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1465 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

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.