Latest news with #PeoriaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Peoria police start ‘Books and Badges' reading program
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Peoria Police Department launched a new reading program called 'Books and Badges.' The police department's neighborhood services unit partnered with the McClure Library for the program. An officer will read a book to the kids. There's also an opportunity for kids to talk about their favorite book and explore the library. There will be five 'books and badges' throughout the summer until July 23. Resident officer Kylia Birris said she came up with the program to help encourage kids to read. 'So I'm just really wanting to encourage them to interact with police in good ways and also have fun and learn and, you know, hopefully I can help further their comprehension skills and, you know, they do well in school and take things that they learn here and take them home with them,' Birris said. Rose Farrell with the library said reading throughout the summer is important. 'So we promote summer reading to help prevent the summer slide, which happens when kids aren't in school,' Farrell said. 'So over the summer they lose a lot of their reading skills, other skill sets that they would have in school. So summer reading really encourages to read throughout the summer so that they don't lose their knowledge and skill sets.' The reading program is for kids in kindergarten through seventh grade. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Woman receives gunshot wound in South Peoria late Sunday night
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A woman was hospitalized after being shot in the foot late Sunday evening. The Peoria Police Department was called at 11:42 p.m. to the 1500 block of South Arago Street to a three-shot alert from the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, said Semone Roth, a police spokeswoman. When police arrived, they did not find any gunshot victims in at the location. After a search, however, police found a woman at the 2000 block of South Friedan Street with a gunshot wound to the foot. She was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Roth said. Roth said the victim was found about a mile away from where the ShotSpotter alert was registered. The incident is still currently under investigation and there is no suspect information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
UPDATE: Man hospitalized with injuries after Saturday shooting
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A man has been hospitalized after being shot in South Peoria Saturday night. At 8:04 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, the Peoria Police Department was called to the 500 block of West Martin Luther King Drive to an 11-round alert from the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, said a police spokesperson. While on the way, police learned a 28-year-old man with gunshot wounds was found at the location, she said. Teen injured after Friday night shooting When officers went to the scene, they saw a man outside a residence with a gunshot wound to the arm and a graze wound to his stomach, they said. The man was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, she said. No arrests have been made public, and there is no suspect information. The shooting is still under investigation and no further information was given. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
After Richwoods HS graduation, fight at Peoria Civic Center leads to 7 arrests
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) Peoria police officers and other security officials had to break up an altercation Saturday following the Richwoods High School graduation at the Peoria Civic Center that led to the arrests of seven juveniles. According to the Peoria Police Department, officers patrolling the Civic Center at 5:15 p.m. noticed a fight between several juveniles break out at the concession stands. Quick intervention by the officers, Civic Center security guards and Peoria Public Schools resource officers broke up the altercation. A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were each charged with aggravated battery and mob action, with both being held at the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center. Two other 16-year-old boys, another 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were also charged with aggravated battery and mob action, but all were released to the custody of their parent or guardian. PPS said Monday the situation was "swiftly resolved" and did not disrupt the graduation ceremony for Richwoods graduates. The students involved in the fight were not among those graduating Saturday, district spokesperson Marjorie Kauth said. She said the district was satisfied with the swift response by police and security officials to put the altercation to rest. She also said the district was prepared for any such incident, with 20 Peoria police officers, 16 school resource officers and 14 Civic Center security officers on site. 'We're incredibly thankful for the professionalism of the various security teams,' Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat said in a statement. 'I am thankful to everyone who made this day special. The positive feedback from families about our new venue, especially the jumbotron view, unlimited seating, and easy parking, confirms it was a joyful and memorable experience.' A video of the altercation posted to Facebook shows Peoria police officers and other security personnel restraining multiple students involved in the fight. One officer can be seen taking a male to the ground, while others restrained another student. Kauth said there will be disciplinary action taken against the students involved in the fight because it occurred at a district-sanctioned event. PPD said anyone with further information on the fight is asked to contact them at (309) 673-4521 or provide an anonymous tip through their Tip411 service. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000. More than 900 students from Peoria High School, Manual High School and Richwoods High School celebrated their graduations at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria police make arrests after graduations at Peoria Civic Center
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Peoria Police Department hosting third year of Safe Zone activities
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Peoria Police officials are spreading the word to families about upcoming summer activities. The 2025 Safe Zone Lock-Ins will be held for students entering fifth through eighth grade, according to police spokeswoman Semone Roth. The events will include arts and crafts, pizza making, obstacle courses and games. Keith McDaniel, community engagement coordinator for the Peoria Police Department, shared why they host the Safe Zones, with this being the third year. 'We want to keep the kids in a controlled environment,' McDaniel said. 'If they're with us, they're not out on the streets doing wrong.' McDaniel also explained what developmental purpose the events have as well. 'The goal is to help build self-esteem,' he said. 'Help build upon certain key skills that they may have and may use throughout their lives. ' Mary Peterson, community relations and crime prevention manager with PPD, explained how beneficial the lock-ins are. 'This is part of that community policing,' said Peterson. 'We need to be partnering with our community, versus you've got the police department and then you have the community. We're all working together.' The four scheduled events will be held from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., and doors are expected to be open at 5:30 p.m. The event dates will include: June 5 at the Proctor Recreation Center June 12 at the Dream Center Peoria July 10 at the Greater Peoria Family YMCA July 17 at the Wildlife Prairie Park The department is looking for volunteers who would be interested in helping, as well as community partners. Those interested can sign up on May 17 and May 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
