Round Lake Park, Lake Villa join Lake County gang task force
Round Lake Park and Lake Villa will become the newest members of the Lake County Gang Task Force, pending approvals of agreements with each expected Tuesday by the Lake County Board.
The two-year pact is not legally binding, but establishes a structure and mechanism for participation. That includes a provision by each department to designate officers to work with the task force, which is overseen by the Lake County Sheriff's office.
“We know there is a constant gang presence regionally and this is an effective, smart approach not only in sharing resources but sharing intelligence,” said Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko.
The multijurisdictional task force includes federal and county agencies. Local members include Lake County Forest Preserve District, Fox Lake, Grayslake, North Chicago, Park City and Wauconda police.
The sheriff's office has six detectives assigned full time to the task force, Lake County Sheriff's Detective Christopher Covelli said. All members supply detectives — some full-time and some several days a week.
“It's active every day,” Covelli said. “Gangs are the root cause of many problems in Lake County.”
There are about 1,100 documented gang members in Lake County but there are believed to be thousands more, he said.
While chief in Antioch, Lake Villa Police Chief Craig Somerville said he served on a steering committee that considered the task force and has been aware of its operation and benefits.
“Lake Villa, like any other community, the presence of drug activity, gang activity is always there,” Somerville said.
Since its inception, the task force has seized 40 guns and more than $3 million in cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other drugs, Covelli said.
Educating parents, teachers, and children of the dangers and risks associated with gang membership is another important part of the task force mission, according to Sheriff Mark Curran, Its members frequently speak at schools and to community groups.
Anyone with information on gang and/or drug-related activity can call the Gang Task Force tip-line, (847) 377-4424 or Lake County Crime Stoppers (847) 662-2222.