Du Page County Law Enforcement: Addressing Gun Violence, Alternative Strategies, and Youth Programs

Introduction

The study aimed to examine the Du Page County Law Enforcement Initiative. The following research questions guided the findings of the study:

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

1. What initiatives are Du Page County law enforcement implementing to ensure communities do not experience the same level of gun violence as the City of Chicago?
2. What alternative do the police chiefs view law enforcement strategies as the most effective in preventing crime within the municipality?
3. What youth programs sponsored by local law enforcement have been the most successful in reducing juvenile crime?

The above research questions provided the researcher with the ability to undertake a deductive approach to thematic analysis by providing preconceived themes expected to be reflected in the interview answers. There were eight chiefs as participants in the study. Each answered the six interview questions about the Du Page County Law Enforcement Initiative. Three major themes emerged from the interview answers, including initiatives for reducing gun violence in the community, alternative law enforcement strategies, and youth programs to reduce juvenile crime.

Initiatives for Reducing Gun Violence in the Community

Initiatives to reduce gun violence in the community were addressed in the first, second, and third interview questions. The first question was concerned with the factors perceived to explain why gun violence has remained low in the municipality. All the participants supported the notion that gun violence is a real issue in the community. However, it occurs at low levels in their municipalities when compared to Chicago. In Lombard, Roy Newton says, "We don't have gang and drug trade in the community. The concentration of the gang and drug trade in the open-air market is a driving force for gun violence. Even though we have other forms of crime.”

When answering the second question on the initiatives that the respondents think have been implemented to ensure gun violence and the crime rate are minimized in the community compared to Chicago, one participant was sensitive when comparing the initiatives for reducing gun violence in the community compared to Chicago. Dan Woods says, "I am not well versed with how Chicago is doing to reduce gun violence," which makes him not want to compare his initiatives to those of Chicago. The findings reveal that five of the participants agreed to have implemented various initiatives to reduce gun violence in the community, including setting cards on the establishment's entrance, partnering with the community, positive communication with the community, and investigative teams. Roy Newton says, "The initiatives to reduce crime like armed robbery in stores include setting cards on the entrance on the establishments.” Rom Wilke says, "The community came together with the investigative team to enhance integrity in investigating criminal cases.”

Three of the participants said that there are no specific initiatives created on the ground. However, having such initiatives is essential to ensure gun violence is curbed in the community. Greg Thomas says, "No gangs, no gun violence, and no drug crime. Ways of responding to crime are important. Resolutions to address domestic violence are a challenge. But we see the seriousness of the matter and get involved to solve it at the family level." Phil Norton says, "There is nothing implemented specifically to that end. I think it ongoing is if the village board and village government try to make a viable vibrant community where the housing market is probably above the national mean or median and allows people of higher socioeconomic backgrounds to live here. That typically thwarts the gun violence issues displayed in some of the low socioeconomic areas.” Mike Lay says, "We do not have specific initiatives as per se. Ongoing communication with the public is important to follow up clarifications from the public, taking custody of weapons, and intervene in domestic cases.” It shows that even in the low gun violence crime areas, the community still sees the importance of reducing the possibility of occurrence.

Six of the participants were concerned with increasing the number of police staff if more resources were available. These responses answered the third question “If resources were available, what initiatives would you want to implement to ensure your community is safe to work, live, and raise a family” Mike Lay says, "Employ more police officers is the first thing. That will be available to oversee specific areas of crime. They will respond as much as possible." Phil Norton says, "I would add more police officers. The community would want more corps, as they value you with how much you can do.” The other participants noted the need for training and setting new social programs. Rom Wilke says, "Social work programs, for social services and bridge the gap between the rich and poor." Dan Woods states, "Education programs, gang resistance training program, in schools, relationship building programs with the police, to trust and be able to talk to them.”

Alternative Law Enforcement Strategies

The theme of alternative law enforcement strategies that the respondents would like implemented or created to ensure their municipality is safe to work, live, and raise a family emerged based on the results. The fourth question “What are your thoughts on community policing and neighborhood watch organizations?” addressed the alternative law enforcement strategies. Community policing and neighborhood watch organizations were two alternative law enforcement strategies that the participants noted to be important in ensuring gun violence is reduced in the community. All the participants supported the use of community policing in their municipalities. Dan Woods says, "They are invaluable. I mentioned in question 1, that partnerships are valuable to ensure efficiency in achieving crime-free neighborhoods. Having a partnership with the community, those extra eyes and ears, to ensure the community is safe and free of crime.” Brett Kaczorowski says, "Community policing is one big triangle. If you don’t have it you don’t have an effective foundation for policing in a community. People will see a crime and don’t want to talk to you. Without understanding the trends, it will be difficult to deal with crime in the community.” However, one participant was concerned with the trust issues with implementing community policing today in the municipality. Phil Norton says, "Community policing today is not so well due to trust issues between the community and the police. That has affected law enforcement. We put a high value on community policing. We used to rotate in different districts. However, we are now assigned to different districts.”

On neighborhood watch organizations, the participants supported the importance of having them in the community. Brett Kaczorowski says, "We have these organizations to structure foundations for addressing crimes that have been identified.” Greg Thomas says, "Neighborhood watch is an old-school way of communicating. Even though there is the availability of new ways of communication today, we have neighborhood groups. We have 30 groups created by the police departments. They hold community meetings to discuss issues affecting the neighborhood such as violence, gangs, and drugs. They are very good for communicating, and fixing issues related to public interest.” Roy Newton says, "We have homeowner associations to handle buildings, citizen police academy available for 20 years.”

Two participants said that they do not have neighborhood watch organizations within the municipality. Phil Norton says, "Currently, we do not have any active ones here. We do not have areas with high crime rates in the neighborhood. I believe they are effective programs if there is an agenda by the people on the neighborhood watch. A true program is when everyone is involved to solve issues of crime.” Mike Lay says, "Neighborhood watch organizations, were used many years ago. It is not easy for everyone to participate. We do not have an official program taking place. There is no major issue going on in the neighborhood. But people need to watch out for one another. Community policing is more effective when compared to neighborhood watch organizations.”

Resource officers in schools have also been deployed in high schools to enforce the law within the institutions. This was addressed as an alternative law enforcement strategy in the sixth question: "What are your perspectives on resource officers in high schools?” The participants described the importance of the resource officer's role in high schools. Roy Newton says, "School violence is real. Schools are also a target for kids who are experiencing trouble in their lives and they may need to practice violence. The police ensure public safety for kids in the schools. They help stop fights, and domestic issues between the kids.” The officers in schools will teach the kids things like the government and its arms. Help the kids understand the criminal aspects of society. The court process and system, as well as different areas of government. They work with the youth in high schools in football games and dances. They are part of the community and its wellbeing and ensure the kids are safe.

Greg Thomas adds that high school resource officers "Are well and putting the right officers in high school is fantastic. They enforce the law, open up the youth to issues of drinking and driving, and assist the kids in maturing. The resource officers have involved agencies in due diligence and ensure the kids take good steps in life. It has worked well in all locations. They are essential for the safety of in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension students. Rom Wilke says, "This is central. Police are not put there to be enforcement. They are there as extra faculty. They are an extra team to teach classes on legal affairs, engineering, etc. I see them as a guide, community advice, and friends. It's a good way of providing the kids with extra faculty to gain skills that they may not get in the classroom.”

Only one participant said that they do not have resource officers in their high schools. However, they are important personnel for mentoring the students. David Schar says, "We do not have those. We evaluate whether that is necessary. However, they are positive for mentorship opportunities.” It is important to note that police officers can help students get experiences on life issues. Gun violence occurs among students, and they also face conflicts outside their homes. Therefore, early interventions are important. Police officers help in identifying criminal behavior developing in students and help in creating early interventions. The relationship between students and officers is determined by how the kids behave.

Youth Programs to Reduce Juvenile Crime

In reducing juvenile crime within the community, the participants described different youth programs implemented to address the issue. These programs include training centers for the kids, holding events for the youth, and community youth programs. Roy Newton says, "There is a junior citizen academy for high school kids. We help them design a career to do, and teach them to understand the importance of driving safely without distractions. It is very successful. We attend different events within the year that are effective such as youth parties, tours, and community events including show nights, and booth events." The findings reveal that kids can watch driving habits on the computer during these events and learn about drug driving. We talk and encourage the youth in various settings to be good kids and avoid criminal acts. Greg Thomas says we have “Youth-based balls, sports clubs, sports programs, youth clubs, drama programs, scouting programs. These are important...