Streator sees recent decline in gun violence amid renewed efforts by police, officials say

Shaw Local staff members selected the stories that have made the biggest impact in 2024 and looked ahead at what’s next in 2025 for a year-in-review series.

After a year marked by 62 reported gunfire incidents, Streator has seen a recent decline in shootings.

While 2024 began with several shootings in March, April and May, the Streator Police Department is seeing progress.

The department, with the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team, the region’s drug task force, executed a series of search warrants late this year, which has led to multiple arrests, with seizures of illegal firearms and drugs.

Police Chief John Franklin credits the department’s collaboration with Tri-DENT, as it has led to a noticeable decline in gun-related incidents in recent months.

“We’ve definitely seen less shootings recently, particularly after our series of search warrants earlier this year,” Franklin said. “The message is clear: Those who are contributing to violence in our community will face consequences, and we’re using every resource at our disposal to address the problem.”

Franklin said the task force’s work has been vital, especially the participation of a Streator officer on that team.

“We’re really seeing the benefits and result of having an officer dedicated full-time to Tri-DENT. The focus, the coordination, it’s making a difference,” Franklin said. “Without that direct connection, I’m not sure we would have the same level of success we’ve have recently.”

In addition to the Tri-DENT partnership, Franklin said Streator’s police department has switched up patrol times and locations, particularly during the evening hours when many incidents of gun violence occur.

Franklin said he’s emphasized for officers to be more proactive in stopping and questioning individuals suspected of involvement in illegal activities, such as dealing drugs and other gang-related behaviors.

“We’ve adjusted things, focusing on key areas where we know there’s trouble,” Franklin said. “We’re trying not to just respond to calls – we’re out there, working to prevent incidents before they happen.”

Regardless, Franklin noted several shootings this year saw a lack of cooperation from residents and witnesses, complicating investigations.

“We’re not getting a lot of help from the community in some cases, but that’s something we need to work on,” Franklin said. “I understand the fear people have, but without their cooperation, it’s much harder to solve these cases.”

Streator has been working to establish a more community involved approach through the reestablishment of the Neighborhood Watch program.

The idea was brought up during a special meeting at Streator City Hall in October, where more than 100 Streator residents showed up after a spree of shootings.

Although Mayor Tara Bedei confirmed it’s still in its early stages, the program looks to engage residents in keeping a closer eye on who’s in their neighborhood and reporting suspicious activities, trying to create a stronger link between the police and the community.

Bedei, Franklin and City Manager David Plyman hosted a meeting in November at City Hall to discuss the program and invited the public to open up conversations about general expectations and how the watch captain’s role works.

Bedei confirmed the city has ordered some items for the program and are looking to ramp up efforts to get it going after the new year.

“We will be launching a registry for the neighborhood watch captains in the coming weeks and then setting up a quarterly meeting schedule,” Bedei said.

Franklin said he likes the idea of what the program could mean for Streator Police Department, but emphasized that it’s up to residents willing to cooperate.

“At this point, it’s hard to say how effective it will be, but we’re hopeful this can help things,” said Franklin. “The initial response from the community has been positive, but it’s really up to the residents to stay committed to the program.”