Carpentersville may get help in crime fight

A Carpentersville initiative tackling gang and drug enforcement could receive $400,000 in federal funding early next year to enhance the program.

The Community Response Team was included on the U.S. House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee bill, which is now ready for consideration by the full Senate.

The village had requested $500,631 to add an officer and social worker to the program.

Though the bill awaits Senate approval -- and the president's signature -- village officials are confident the program will receive funding.

"It sounds like the appropriations will be held over until after the November election because it is a Democratic Senate," Village President Bill Sarto said.

The funds would be used to employ additional personnel, purchase equipment and integrate new programs, Sarto said.

Democratic Congressman Bill Foster of Geneva submitted the request, which was approved Monday.

"I listened to the mayor and other community leaders and put in a request to tackle the problem of gangs and crime that would put more police officers on the street while also hiring more social workers to address the fundamental causes of crime," Foster said.

Created in 2003, the Community Response Team uses intervention, education and strict enforcement to combat drug and gang violence.

With a zero-tolerance policy for gang activity, the Community Response Team made numerous controlled drug buys, resulting in 14 search warrants and 52 arrests between January and December 2006.

In the same year, the team made 88 arrests and identified 95 gang members living in town, a village description of the project states.

Village Manager Craig Anderson said the response team is one of the four projects the village has primed for federal funding.

Other projects include a $1.5 million to recoups costs of land acquisition for a new public works facility, $2.2 million to help build roads and fix infrastructure in the Golfview Highlands subdivision and $605,000 for an emergency backup generator at the village's waste water treatment plant.

Those projects are still under consideration.