Grant will beef up Carpentersville gang unit

The Carpentersville police gang unit will have a little more backup, thanks to a federal grant from the Justice Department.

The $400,000 grant will be used over a three-year period to increase the impact of existing anti-gang enforcement operations, improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency and assist crime victims, Police Chief David Neumann said in a memo to village board members.

The village will hire a full-time community response officer for about $98,281 per year, as well as a part-time social worker for about $16,789 a year. Another $54,000 will go to equipment and expenses, including a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu for the unit to use.

"We are always trying to address the gang problem in town through prevention and also in arresting the gang members involved in illegal activities," Neumann said. "We believe having another officer and part-time social worker will help us achieve those goals."

After the third year, Neumann said the village would need to find a way to continue the services of the two positions. Village board members agreed to accept the grant despite the cost down the road.

Neumann said the village is expected to receive the funding before the Oct. 31 end of the federal government's fiscal year.

The community response team is made up of police officers who work on anti-gang enforcement, as well as civilians who provide social services for prevention, education and crime-victim assistance. The village's lone full-time social worker, Griselda Hernandez, was recently named Police Social Worker of the Year by the Illinois Association of Police Social Workers.