Latest news with #PeoriaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Shooting incidents and homicides both down in Peoria
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The latest numbers from Peoria police show that most gun-related crime appears to be down in the first five months of 2025. The Peoria Police Department's year-to-date Shooting Report, released on Tuesday, compares crime data from Jan. 1 to May 31, 2025, with that from the same time in 2024. The data show that shooting incidents are down from 28 in 2024 to 19 so far in 2025, representing a 32% decrease. The number of shooting victims also decreased 35%, which was a decrease from 31 victims in 2024 to 20 victims in 2025. The total number of homicides at this point also decreased from five in 2024 to three in 2025. Of those, four of the homicides were caused by gunshot wounds in 2024, compared to two in 2025. The total number of rounds fired has also gone down, from 2,317 in 2024 to 1,418 in 2025. More information is available on the Peoria Police Department Transparency Dashboard. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Red, White and BOOM! less than a month away
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Every Fourth of July, there are traditions such as cook-outs, hanging out with family and if you in the Peoria area, there's a really big fireworks show on the riverfront. The Chose Greater Peoria Red, White and BOOM! looks to once again draw in hundreds of thousands of people, to prove once again they are the 'best fireworks show in Illinois.' Every year, both sides of the Illinois River are lined with spectators. Some people stake out their prime watching spot early in the day and camp out. Others watch from as far away as Glen Oak Park. According to state Rep. Jehan Gordan-Booth, the event is perfect for people of all ages. 'Whether you have a six-month-old or an 89-year-old parent or grandparent,' she said. 'Every age, every generation in between can come down here, feel safe, feel secure, and frankly, enjoy one of the treasures that we have in this country, celebrating our country's birthday.' While 'Red, White, & BOOM!' sees large turnout, there's virtually no trace left Friday Organizers are planning on having a great turnout, as they are partnering with other community groups in Peoria such as the Peoria Fire Department, Peoria Police Department and more to ensure safety. Gordon-Booth said the event outdoes itself year after year. 'I think every year they find a way to make it a little bit better,' she said. 'That's the exciting part about the folks who have been around this for a while. We really keep leveling this opportunity up.' To find how to get to the event, and where to park, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
30 agencies get into the Illinois River near East Peoria for training exercises
EAST PEORIA, Ill (WMBD) — If you were driving over the Murray Baker Bridge and happened to see a bunch of armed men in boats, don't worry. It's just a training drill. Some 30 agencies including the Peoria Police Department, the Illinois State Police and the Peoria County Sheriff's Office were involved in a daylong joint maritime training exercise Monday. Basing out of EastPort Marina, the groups, under the auspices of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, practiced and discussed boarding drills on commercial vessels, fire on watercraft, sonar operations and dive operations. The idea was to bring the agencies together and familiarize them with the Illinois river system and the hazards that can arise from potential threats. Among the teams involved from the various agencies were divers as well as those trained in Explosive Ordinance Demolition. James Middlemas, who is the chief deputy of the Peoria County Sheriff's Office, is also the commander of the ILEAS team at the riverfront. 'With such a vast river system that we have here. There are a lot of chemical plants, there's a lot of nasty stuff that is being transported along on this river,' he said. 'So, we want to be able to, if someone were with bad intention, were to get a hold of some of those things, we want to practice and be able to know how we would respond to such a situation.' Middlemas said the groups will spend the first part of the day 'just getting acquainted and understanding what that norm is getting used to being on the water.' Later, he said, 'we'll start throwing some of those other things at them later on to be aware of.' Peoria Police Lt. Mike Johnston said it's a good thing to do occasionally. 'Our day-to-day operations don't usually involve the Illinois River,' Johnston said. 'So, any time we get our specialized assets together to participate in an exercise on the river is an important task for us.' Middlemas feels it is a great opportunity to work with other agencies on possible threats. '[It's a] great opportunity for all of us to kind of unify forces and see how we would combat something like this.' Middlemas said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man struck in the face after masked men kick down the door of his East Bluff home
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Two ski-mask wearing men kicked in the door of an East Bluff home early Sunday, struck the resident in the face and then fired a gun in the air as they were leaving. Officers with the Peoria Police Department went to the 300 block of East Corrington Street just before 4:15 a.m. Sunday after an alert from the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system indicated nine rounds had been fired, said Semone Roth, a departmental spokeswoman. When they arrived, a man walked up to them, saying someone broke into his house in the 2800 block of North Missouri Avenue, which is less than a block away from the ShotSpotter alert, according to Roth. One hospitalized after car crashed into a Peoria church Sunday morning The man told police two unknown men, wearing ski masks, had kicked down his front door and one pointed a gun at him before hitting him with it, she said. The two assailants then left the house and, as they ran away, fired the gun into the air, Roth said. The victim received minor injuries. No one else was injured, she said. No suspect information was given, and no arrests had been made public. Roth did say that there was no report of anything being taken from the home. The incident is still under investigation. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- 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.
