Prospect Hts. gets grant to fight gangs, substance abuse

The Prospect Heights Police Department recently was awarded $40,500 from Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to be used to help address gang and substance abuse related incidents in targeted areas.

The grant increased enforcement, with a focus on surveillance and patrols to identify and eliminate the dangerous crime element in the community.

"It is the department's primary objective to increase police visibility and community interaction throughout the city in order to deter potential crime from occurring. Without funding assistance from Cook County DHSEM, this would not be possible," said Chief James Dunne. "The police department not only conducted enforcements to deter gang-related activity, but also to educate and positively interact with the residents of this community."