March 29, 2007

2006 was a busy year for the Peoria Police Department. The City of Peoria’s population continued to grow at an accelerated rate; this year adding a new high school, businesses, entertainment areas and more housing. Increased growth has created a more vibrant and active City. It has also resulted in more citizens’ calls for service and increased traffic. To meet our responsibility to expand police services throughout the City, we have reviewed our patrol schedules and made changes as necessary. We have received traffic grants to expand our traffic and DUI enforcement, and we have aggressively utilized the funding provided by City Council for additional staff and resources.

Our newly created Commercial Enforcement Unit (CEU) has proven to be a successful response for the “entertainment area” to ensure that citizens and establishments conform to all laws and regulations that govern the sale and consumption of alcohol. They also ensure these areas remain safe for our residents and guests to visit.

To reduce the increasing demands on patrol officer time, City Council supported our request to fund an alternative reporting program. The Police Department is now able to handle some citizen requests for service by telephone. During 2006, 3,695 calls for service were handled by a small staff of part time and full time employees, resulting in 2,330 reports being written. This program has allowed patrol officers to handle higher priority calls and to patrol neighborhoods, parks and businesses.

During the year, the Department underwent an extensive review of its policies, procedures and day-to-day operations by a team of outside police executives. As a result, the Department was reaccredited for the third time since its initial accreditation in 1997 by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), an international non-profit organization created to ensure that law enforcement agencies maintain the highest standards.

2006 has been a year to heal and celebrate. In December 2005, Officer Bill Weigt was severely injured in the line of duty when he and others attempted to apprehend a homicide suspect. During the year, Officer Weigt struggled to return to the job he loved and, despite being paralyzed, he was able to return to the Department in December 2006 – just one year after his injury. An incident such as this characterizes a department’s professionalism and caring. Throughout the year, members of the Department and the community came together to support Officer Weigt and his family, and to celebrate his return as a member of the Peoria Police Department.

2006 ended as a year of transition and change for the Department. In October 2006, Chief David Leonardo announced his retirement after six years of service to the Department and the community. Leadership changes in any organization are inevitable. The foundation of a strong police department has been established and it is now the responsibility of the members of the Department to meet the challenges of the future.

Over the past months, I have heard many words of praise about the great works of our employees. Often the praise is the result of a seemingly little thing, an act of kindness by a desk officer, compassion given a crime victim by an officer or the comforting words from a communications specialist. It’s the little things that identify the Peoria Police Department as a special organization made up of very special people.



Larry J. Ratcliff
Interim Chief of Police