Posted on 08/21/2013 11:00:14 AM PDT by kevcol
In announcing charges against 58 suspected drug dealers, States Attorney Brendan Kelly said the state of lawlessness in East St. Louis, Washington Park, Alorton and Brooklyn is due in part to overwhelmed and poorly trained police departments.
In large parts of these communities at any part of the day, theres really very little law enforcement presence, so this type of lawlessness occurs with impunity, Kelly said. Its the hallmark of a failed state.
East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Floore could not be reached Thursday. Mayor Alvin Parks agreed with Kellys assessment of scarce resources but rejected the notion of a failed state.
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The lack of police presence is the result of deep manpower and budget shortages and is compounded by poor training and in some cases, cops indicted or under investigation for crimes, Kelly said.
Only once during the 96-hour operation did undercover officers even see an East St. Louis patrol car, Kelly said.
He also said undercover officers briefly blew their cover July 31 to arrest two carjacking suspects after the victim told them he tried to flag down a passing East St. Louis officer who would not stop.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
I am almost 60 years old. I remember growing up as a young kid in Southern Indiana being warned NEVER, EVER go to East St. Louis. Nothing changes.
LOL...Kinda part of the problem...No law enforcement around...Can`t even get a guy attached to an office to respond. MONEY FOR NOTHING!!!!
Most FReepers have doubtless heard of the huge tornado that hit East St. Louis a few years ago. Did almost $200 million worth of improvements.
I’m a police officer 45 miles north of ESL and you wouldn’t catch me down there with all my backup and off-duty weapons strapped on me. From what I’ve heard I’d say it’s easily almost as bad as Detroit.
LOL! I love how the police chief’s hat obscures “East”.
Just throw them more Gibsmedat. It’s what they really want.
That’s one of the two reasons I never cross the river, unless I must cross the state to go east.
The other reason is that the cop who wouldn’t stop for the carjacking would stop me for the revolver in the console. I’m legal in Missouri but do not want to spend years in an Illinois prison.
"I wonder if these guys know The Commodores?"
That place could easily pass for N’Djamena, Chad.
St. Louis, MO right across the Mississippi river is just about as bad as East St. Louis, IL now, especially the north side.
Whoops.
If someone really thinks East St. Louis will ever get any better... well... they've got a better chance of seeing God.
You know, I’ve often thought that some enterprising retired special ops kind of people ought to get together and offer safaris for certain select clients into these kinds of areas to hunt drug dealers and other assorted scum.
It’d be the ultimate hunt. Teams of one guide and one client. Bag limit of one. Only the client takes game. Get in, bag the limit, and get out. Done only at night. All very quiet and hush, hush. All equipment and weapons completely destroyed after the hunt. Only cash is used. No rentals or public transportation used.
Not only would this start taking out some of the trash and improve the neighborhoods for the working folk, but it could be done so in such a way as to spook the other bad guys big time. Even better would be to deliberately start some major turf wars by alternating bagging game from the different gangs competing in the same area. Turf wars would also detract from the relevance or importance of the initial kills.
Very capitalist idea. Very patriotic too.
I have friends in ISP District 11 as well as civilian friends in Collinsville & Edwardsville and they’re telling me that the creeping ESL utopia is fast encroaching into their towns and residential areas.
I’m sure at some point North County and ESL will join together and encompass one huge area.
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