>> WELCOME TO AT ISSUE.

I'M WAYNE WILSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE NEW POLICE CHIEF IN THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE MIGHT BRING TO THE COMMUNITY.

HIS NAME IS ERIC ECHEVARRIA.

I APOLOGIZE.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

>> DHCHIEF ECHEVARRIA IS FROM ELINGTON WHERE YOU SPENT YOUR ENTIRE CAREER?

>>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU WERE BASICALLY AN ILLINOISAN.

YOU.

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU ARE A MARINE VETERAN.

>> YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WITH EVERYTHING UP -- FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT ELGIN, IT'S A NORTHWEST SUBURB OF CHICAGO.

WHY COME FROM ELGIN TO PEORIA AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS?

>> THE OPPORTUNITY CAME OPEN AS I DID MY RESEARCH ON PEORIA.

PEORIA IS VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO ELGIN IN SIZE, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT WOULD THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FIT WITH THE CHALLENGES I FACED IN MY COMMUNITY AND MY CAREER.

IT MADE ME A GREAT FIT FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE TO COME HERE IN PEORIA.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME SPECIFICS, COULD YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR OVERALL PHILOSOPHY OF WHAT THE ROLE OF POLICE CHIEF IS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK A POLICE CHIEF IS FIRST AND FOREMOST ACCOUNTABLE TO THIS COMMUNITY AND THEN ACCOUNTABLE TO THE OFFICE AND STAFF THAT ARE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK THE PHILOSOPHY IS TO BE TRANSPARENT, TREAT EVERYBODY WITH EQUITY AND RESPECT, AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS INTO PLACE.

>> WE HAVE A POLICY OF WHAT NORMALLY IS CALLED AN OPEN DOOR, THE POLICE CHIEF'S OFFICE IS OPEN TO THE OFFICERS.

>> YES.

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE OFFICER.

>> I HAVE BEEN.

>> CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT% ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED AND WHAT MIGHT HELP YOU AS THE CHIEF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST WHAT I'LL SAY IS THE PEORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A DEPARTMENT THAT IS FULL OF TALENT AND A VERY HARD WORKING GROUP OF OFFICERS.

I'VE BEEN OUT ON CALLS.

MY FIRST DAY HERE I WORKED MIDNIGHT SHIFT WITH THE OFFICERS.

THAT WAS THE NIGHT ONE OF OUR OFFICERS GOT SHOT AND THE PROFESSIONALISM I SEEN AND THE WORK THAT THEY DID, EVERYTHING I SEEN FROM THAT POINT ON IS WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM THEM.

WHAT LITTLE THEY HAVE AND THE SHORT MANPOWER, THEY'RE GETTING THE JOB DONE.

AND SO JUST TALKING TO THEM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS A CHIEF AND MY COMMAND STAFF ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT OUR OFFICERS ARE SAYING AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

THESE OFFICERS THE ONES OUT ON THE STREET DOING THE WORK.

I'M NOT OUT ON THE STREET ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS GOING FROM CALL TO CALL, TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, ANSWERING THESE -- RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS FOR SERVICE.

THEY ARE.

SO THEY'RE SEEING FIRSTHAND IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM.

WHAT IS IT THAT THEY NEED?

WHAT TRAINING DO THEY NEED?

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE COMMUNITY AND GET THE JOB DONE AND GET IT DONE RIGHT.

>> SO YOU'RE MEETING WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE.

>> ONE-ON-ONE.

PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS IN MY OFFICE WITH MYSELF AND THEM.

>> AND PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS IN GENERAL, ANY SURPRISES?

DID YOU LEARN SOMETHING?

>> YEAH.

I WAS SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT MOST OF THEM HAD NEVER BEEN IN THE CHIEF'S OFFICE AND I THINK THAT UNDER MY COMMAND THE CHIEF OFFICE IS OPEN TO THEM.

THEY'RE PART OF THE STAFF AND DOING THE WORK HERE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY SHOULD KNOW WHERE MY OFFICE IS AT.

IF THEY HAVE A NEW IDEA OR FRES PERSPECTIFRESH THEY EVEN PERSPECTIVE, THE NEW CHIEF IS COMING IN, WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO, WHAT'S HE GOING TO CHANGE, WHAT'S HE GOING TO IMPLEMENT.

RUMORS MAY STIR.

COME TO MY OFFICE AND ASK ME.

>> YOU HAVE ALSO MET WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS.

I KNOW YOU'RE ONLY THREE WEEKS ON THE JOB.

>> YES.

>> BUT WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THOSE PEOPLE?

>> I'LL SAY THIS.

THE FIRST DAY THAT I REALLY NOTICE IS THAT WE HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY'S BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE VIOLENCE THAT THEY'RE SEEING AND THE SHOOTINGS AND THESE HOMICIDES.

I DON'T BLAME THEM.

ONE SHOOTING IS ONE TOO MANY.

ONE HOMICIDE IS ONE HOMICIDE TOO MANY.

AND SO WE NEED TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT -- THIS IS NOT ONLY A POLICE PROBLEM.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOMICIES.

WE'RE AT 21 AND COUNTING RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF PEORIA FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR.

WE HAD 14 IN 2020.

WE HAD 25 IN 2019.

22 IN 2018.

SO WE'RE ON PACE TO HAVE MORE THAN AT LEAST IN THE LAST TWO DECADES.

IT'S ONLY ONE TYPE OF VIOLENCE.

BUT IT'S THE IMAGE THAT IS LEFT ON THE COMMUNITY.

HOW WILL YOU GO ABOUT TRYING TO CHANGE THAT IMAGE?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE ANSWER THAT WILL SUFFICE.

THERE'S NOT ONE TRICK THAT WILL CORRECT THAT.

I CAN'T CONTROL WHO CHOOSES TO HAVE A CONFLICT WITH SOMEBODY AND THEN COMMIT A HOMICIDE.

WHAT I THINK THAT WE CAN CONTROL IS THERE ARE -- THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE CITY OF PEORIA IS WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN ALL MY MEETINGS.

THIS GROUP IS WORKING ON ONE WAY OF DOING SOMETHING.

ANOTHER GROUP IS DOING IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

ANOTHER G GROUP IS DOING SOMETHING ELSE.

EVERYBODY IS WORKING IN SILOS.

I THINK WE ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER.

I USE THE IMAGE OF A WHEEL.

IT DOESN'T ONLY WORK WITH ONE SPOKE AND THE SPOKES HAVE TO BE ALL IN PLACE AND TIGHT FOR THAT WHEEL TO TURN.

AND I THINK IT'S THE SAME HERE.

WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THESE RESOURCES TOGETHER AND REALLY WORK COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ENGAGE OUR UNIT.

WHERE I THINK WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF VIOLENCE COMING FROM, THERE'S NOT A REAL -- IN MY THREE WEEKS HERE, IN MY BRIEFS THAT I HAD, WE DON'T HAVE A GANG PROBLEM LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE IN ANOTHER CITY.

LIKE A CHICAGO OR THE AREA THAT I CAME FROM WHERE YOU HAVE THESE SPECIFIC GANGS THAT HAVE HIERARCHY.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN RULES AND POLICIES AND GUIDELINES TO BE IN THE GANG.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE CLIQUES OF JUVENILES OR YOUNG DEALTS WHO ARE HAVING CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER CLIQUE.

THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE VIOLENCE OCCUR.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE HEAT MAPS THAT WE HAVE AND LOOK WHERE THE VIOLENCE IS OCCURRING AND REALLY PUT OUR EFFORTS IN THAT DIRECTION, Q WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, WHETHER IT'S SPORTS, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATON, WHETHER IT'S HOW WE ENGAGE THOSE COMMUNITIES FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.

I THINK ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY PINPOINT THESE AREAS AND ENGAGE THESE AREAS IN A DIFFERENT WAY, I THINK WE CAN START SEEING THOSE ISSUES.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES YOU JUST BROUGHT UP.

ONE WOULD BE POLICE OFFICERS ARE CALLED OUT ON MANY TYPES OF CALLS BUT SOMETIMES IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH CALL.

OFFICERS ARE NOT TRAINED TO A GREAT EXTENT IN THAT ARENA SO IT WOULD HELP IF YOU HAD SOME MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A WAY THAT YOU MIGHT REDUCE THE LOAD ON OFFICERS GOING ON THOSE TYPES OF CALLS SO THAT YOU CAN DEDICATE OFFICERS TIMES TO OTHER TYPES OF EVENTS?

>> ABSOLUTE.

FIRST I'LL SAY POLICE, WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO SAY NO, SO IF SOMEBODY IS CALLING FOR A POLICE SERVICE, WHETHER IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S A HOMELESS ISSUE, WHATEVER THE ISSUE MAY BE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RESPOND.

AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE IS CALL STARTING FROM OUR DISPATCH CENTER IS THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN THERE THAT CAN TRIAGE THE CALLS AND REALLY DETERMINE IS THIS A FULL POLICE RESPONSE OR CAN WE SEND A MENTAL HEALTH WORKER AND JUST AN OFFICER?

IS THIS A RESPONSE FROM SOMEBODY FROM A HOSPITAL?

DO WE NEED JUST -- COULD WE HAVE AN AMBULANCE JUST RESPOND AND NOT THE POLICE RESPOND.

WE REALLY NEED TO TRAGE CALLS TRIAGE CALLS AND I THINK WE'RE DOING THAT FROM THERE.

THEY HAVE SOMEBODY IN PLACE THAT'S STARTING THAT.

SO THEY'VE STARTED THAT ALREADY.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AND HOW CAN THAT BE IMPROVED.

I THINK NOW ON OUR END OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INSTEAD OF CALLING A MENTAL HEALTH WORKER OUT OR SOCIAL WORKER OUT TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS, WE SHOULD HAVE THEM WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH US MAYBE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I'D LOVE TO OFFER SOME SPACE FOR THAT AND HAVE THEM BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND CO-RESPOND WITH US VERSUS US GETTING ON SCENE AND THEN CALLING THEM EUT.

OUT.

WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED TO HAVE THEM RESPOND WITH US AND THEN HAVE SOME WRAPAROUND SERVICES WHERE THERE'S SOME FOLLOW-UP TO THESE TYPES OF CALLS SO WE KNOW IF WE'RE DEALING WITH A SPECIFIC PERSON ALL THE TIME.

IF WE'RE ONLY GOING OUT THERE AND RESPONDING TO THE CALL AND PUTTING A BAND-AID ON IT EVERY TIME, THAT DOESN'T HELP US.

WHAT OTHER SERVICE CAN WE BE PROVIDING OR DIRECT AGENCIES TO THIS PERSON SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

>> SO MAYBE INSTEAD OF SENDING MULTIPLE OFFICERS, YOU ONLY SEND ONE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT WOULD FREE UP AN OFFICER TO GO TO REAL POLICE CALLS.

I DON'T USE THE TERM REAL.

THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE POLICE AUTHORIZED LEVEL, YOU HAVE FEWER THAN 200 OFFICERS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

197 OFFICERS.

>> IS THERE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THAT 197?

I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE CITY BUDGET.

>> CORRECT.

>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY HERE'S MONEY FOR 10 MORE OFFICERS.

>> LET'S NOT SAY THAT.

HOPEFULLY HE WILL.

>> I'LL CALL HIM AFTER THIS.

>> PLEASE DO.

>> BUT HAVE YOU LOOKED AT HOW YOU MIGHT CHANGE THE USE OF YOUR OFFICERS?

>> YES, WE HAVE.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME UNION NEGOTIATIONS IN PLACE CURRENTLY, BUT LOOKING AT RESTRUCTURING HOW WE RUN OUR SHIPS, FOR ONE, LOOKING AT WHERE WE DEDICATE OUR MANPOWER THROUGH THE USE OF OUR DATA, WHERE THE HOT SPOTS ARE, ET CETERA.

AND THEN ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS IS I'M NOT SURE WHEN WE LAST LOOKED AT THIS HERE AT THE PEORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS KIND OF RESTRUCTURING OUR DISTRICTS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS DO NOT MATCH OUR POLICE DISTRICTS AND FOR A NEW CHIEF COMING IN AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DISTRICT, WHAT COUNCIL DISTRICT DID THIS OCCUR TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM SOME INFORMATION, I THINK WE NEED TO REBOUNDARIZE SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS.

SOME DISTRICTS ARE VERY BIG AND WE MAY NEED MORE MANPOWER AND HAVE MORE ACTIVITY.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR DISTRICTS, SEE WHERE WE'RE PUSHING OUR MANPOWER TO AND HOW THEY'RE RESPONDING TO THAT.

SO THERE'S SOME THINGS IN PLACE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT I'VE SAT DOWN WITH MY COMMAND STAFF TO LOOK AT.

LIKE I SAID, LIKE YOU SAID, I'M HERE THREE WEEKS AND THERE'S A LOT TO DO.

THAT'S ON THE LIST.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT CURRENTLY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE MEETING INDIVIDUALLY WITH OFFICER.

>> YES.

>> YOU ARE ALSO MEETING WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS, MAYOR ALI, ET CETERA.

>> YES.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THEM?

>> KIND OF THE SAME THING THAT I SAID BEFORE IS THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE -- EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ON BOARD TO HELP, BUT EVERYBODY IS KIND OF WORKING IN SILOS.

AND I THINK THESE MEETINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING WHERE WE'RE BRINGIN PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND I'M HOPING THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

I WON'T SPEAK ON WHAT THE MAYOR IS DOING, BUT SHE'S DOING SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR WHERE SHE'S TAKING ALL THESE RESOURCES AND KIND OF PULLING THEM TO ONE LOCATION.

I THINK ON THE POLICE SIDE IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT TOO.

THERE'S OTHER RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATIONAL, WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH SPORTS.

REALLY OUR SOCIAL SERVICES IS PULLING THOSE, SO IF THIS PERSON IS DEALING IN THIS SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY IS DEALING WITH A FAMILY MEMBER AND THEY HAVE A CHILD THAT NEEDS TO GET INTO A SPORT BUT CAN'T AFFORD IT, HOW DO WE CONNECT THEM WITH THE SPORT OR CONNECT THEM WITH A ROBOTICS SCHOOL OR A STEM PROGRAM HERE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE IS REALLY MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND HAVING THAT WHERE PEOPLE CAN DO THAT.

>> YOUR ETHNICITY IS PUERTO RICAN.

>> YES, PUERTO RICAN.

>> HAVE YOU FOUND THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO REACH OUT TO, IN THE SHORT TIME YOU'VE BEEN HERE, REACH OUT TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITY?

HAS THAT HELPED?

>> YES, I THINK IT HAS HELPED.

I THINK THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THAT I RESEMBLE THEM.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS, AND I LAUGH ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME, IS WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME OUT OF THIS UNIFORM, I LIKE TO WEAR A CERTAIN TYPE OF SHOE AND A CERTAIN TYPE OF SNEAKERS AND I THINK THERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT FOLLOW IN MY JORDANS AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT PAIR OF JORDANS THAT THE CHIEF IS WEARING.

I THINK THEY REALLY SEE SOMEBODY WHO JUST BECAUSE I WEAR THIS UNIFORM AND I'M THE POLICE CHIEF, THEY SEE ME OUTSIDE AND THEY SAY WOW, THIS PERSON IS JUST LIKE US.

HE'S ANOTHER PERSON JUST LIKE US.

LIKES WHAT WE LIKE.

LIKES THE MUSIC THAT WE LIKE.

AND THE FOODS AND THE FAMILY AND ALL OF THAT.

AND SO I THINK IT DOES HELP THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE.

>> SO LET'S TAKE THAT ETHNICITY TO THE STAFF AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE CITY COUNCIL AT ONE POINT WAS HOPING TO HAVE 40% OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING EITHER FEMALE OR SOME FORM OF MINORITY.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BY 2025 BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET.

DO YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW YOU MIGHT INCREASE MINORITY REPRESENTATION ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> I'LL SAY IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE BRING -- JUMBALAYA ISN'T ONLY MADE WITH SHRIMP.

YOU HAVE ALL THE OTHER INGREDIENTS TO GIVE IT THE FLAVOR IT HAS.

IF YOU TRANSLATE THAT TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR A GROUP, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE EVERYBODY.

IN THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE DIFFERENT IDEAS.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT ONLY SKIN TONE.

IT'S HOW YOU THINK AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE ALL THE TIME, BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RESEMBLE AND MIMIC WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS, BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO NOW ENGAGE THOSE POPULATIONS THAT MAY HAVE MISTRUST IN SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEM, RIGHT?

I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN DEFINITELY PUT IN PLACE.

I THINK PEORIA IS KIND OF CENTERED IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S NOTHING ELSE AROUND IT.

SO WE SHOULD BE RECRUITING FROM OUR OWN BACKYARD, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND THE NET -- CAST A WIDER NET OF WHERE WE RECRUIT FROM.

THAT'S LOOKING AT THE TEST AND WHERE WE'RE TESTING, LOOKING AT WHAT THE BARRIERS OF ENTRY ARE TO TAKE ANOTHER EXAM.

IS THERE A FEE THAT THEY NEED TO PAY.

REDUCING THAT FEE OR GETTING RID OF THAT FEE AND WE PROCT T OR OR OUR OWN EXAMS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WE GIVE THE EXAM, WE DO THE POWER TEST, WE DO THE INTERVIEWS AND SOMETIMES A LOT OF THAT IS DONE ON SEPARATE DAYS AND DIFFERENT TIMES AND HOW DO WE CONSOLIDATE THAT TO MAKE IT A ONE-TIME STOP AND PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM OUT OF TOWN AND PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM ELSEWHERE CAN NOW GO THROUGH OUR PROCESS.

KIND OF LIKE THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

IT'S LOOKING AT DIVISION TWO AND DIVISION THREE SCHOOLS.

IF YOU TRY TO RECRUIT A DIVISION ONE SCHOOL, THEY BELIEVE ATHLETICS IS THEIR OUT.

DIVISION TWO AND DIVISION THREE UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF THE UNIFORM AND THE CONCEPT OF TEAM AND THEY FIT THE DEMOGRAPHICS WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THE SAME THING WITH THE MILITARY.

THE MILL TEMPORARY TRANSITION CENTERS, YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY, I WAS IN THE MILITARY.

WE KNOW WHAT THE DEMOGRAPHICS LOOK LIKE IN THE MILITARY.

IT'S REALLY TAPPING IN TO THOSE -- THAT RESOURCE THERE TO SAY YOU HAVE 30 OR 40 PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TAKE THE TEST, WE WILL FLY OUT TO THAT MILITARY TRANSITION CENTER AND WE WILL PROCTOR OUR EXAM THERE FOR THEM.

WE WILL DO THE POWER TEST THERE.

WE CAN DO INTERVIEWS AND POSSIBLY ON SCENE.

AND SO REALLY CONSOLIDATING THAT PROCESS AND LOOKING AT THESE OTHER AVENUES TO RECRUIT AND LOWERING THOSE BARRIERS.

SO WE HAVE TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL ON THAT.

AND THEN THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE FOUR TO FIVE GENERATIONS WORKING IN THE WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THE GENERATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW THAT'S COMING IN IS ALL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.

AND SO IF WE'RE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO COME IN TO PICK UP AN APPLICATION AND WE'RE REQUIRING TO PEOPLE DO SOME THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT OLD FASHIONED, WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR TECHNOLOGY.

THERE IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THERE'S AN APPLICATION OUT THERE THAT WE CAN USE IN OUR RECRUITING PROCESS.

AND BEING REAL INTENTIONAL AT WHAT OUR MESSAGE IS AND WHO WE WANT AS A PEORIA POLICE OFFICER.

>> TECHNOLOGY, LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE ASPECT OF THAT, AND THAT IS THE SHOT SPOTTER PROGRAM.

YOU DID NOT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE UP IN ELGIN.

>> I DID NOT.

>> WE DO HERE IN PEORIA.

>> CORRECT.

>> UNDERSTANDING YOU'RE NEW, BUT HAVE YOU HAD ANY CHANCE TO LOOK AT SHOT SPOTTER AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CITY AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS A VALUE?

BECAUSE A REPORT FROM THE CHICAGO OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL'S PUBLIC SAFETY SECTION SAID THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DATA, QUOTE, DOES NOT SUPPORT A CONCLUSION THAT SHOT SPOTTER IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN DEVELOPING EVIDENCE OF GUN-RELATED CRIME.

ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE NEW ON SHOT SPOTTER, BUT YOUR INITIAL IMPRESSION?

>> MY INITIAL IMPRESSION HAS BEEN TO KIND OF QUESTION -- THERE'S NUMEROUS QUESTIONS YOU ASKED.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE REPORTS OF SHOT SPOTTER, YOU USUALLY GET ONE OF FIVE SHOT SPOTTER I WANTS MAYBE ON AN AVERAGE I'LL SAY THAT SHOW SOME INDICATION THERE WAS A WITNESS, THERE WAS A VICTIM OR THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE OF THE SHOT THAT WAS FIRED OR MULTIPLE SHOTS WERE FIRED.

BUT THEN THERE'S NUMEROUS THAT THERE IS NO VICTIM, THERE'S NO WITNESS, AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ON SCENE IN THE AREA WHERE THE SHOT SPOTTER ALERTED TO.

AND SO THE QUESTION THEN OBVIOUSLY IS A CHIEF AND LOOKING AT BUDGETS IS, IS THIS A TECHNOLOGY THAT WE NEED, WHAT'S THIS TECHNOLOGY COST, AND IS THAT A TECHNOLOGY THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR?

OR ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, HOW MANY TIMES HAS THIS TECHNOLOGY LED US TO A VICTIM THAT WE OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND BECAUSE NOBODY CALLED IT IN AND WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE SOMEBODY FROM PASSING AWAY?

BASED ON SOME INJURIES THEY RECEIVED FROM A GUNSHOT.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND PULL THE DATA.

I'D ASK FOR THAT DATA AND I'M WAITING FOR A RETURN ON THAT INFORMATION TO REALLY JUST TAKE A HOLISTIC LOOK AT IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF PEORIA NEEDS?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD INVEST IN?

OR IS THE MONEY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY INVESTING IN IN THE SHOT SPOTTER, COULD IT BE BETTER USED SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> ONE AREA YOU DO HAVE SMRNS IN EXPERIENCE IN IS RESIDENT OFFICER PROGRAM.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU WERE A RESIDENT OFFICER.

>> YES.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE VALUE OF THAT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE HAVING DONE IT AND IT WILL CONTINUE HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY IT WILL CONTINUE HERE.

THAT IS A NEAR AND DEAR PROGRAM TO ME.

THE VALUE OF THAT PROGRAM, YOU CAN'T -- I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PUT A MEASURE ON IT.

THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU BUILD IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH THE ADULTS, WITH THE CHILDREN, WITH THE ELDERLY, WITH THE BUSINESSES, WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES IS IMMEASURABLE.

HOW MANY KIDS HAVE YOU -- HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU SAVED WITHOUT KNOWING THAT YOU SAVED THEM?

BUT THE ENGAGEMENT IS SO TREMENDOUS, YOU'RE ABLE TO GIVE ONE-ON-ONE SERVICE AND IT'S JUST NOT A BAND-AID.

YOU'RE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SEE WHAT OTHER SERVICES YOU CAN PROVIDE.

AND I'LL GIVE A QUICK EXAMPLE.

BEFORE I CAME HERE TO PEORIA, I HAD A MALE MAN THAT SHOWED MAILMAN THAT SHOWED UP TO MY HOUSE.

HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID OFFICER ERIC.

I LOOKED AT HIM.

HE'S A YOUNG ADULT.

HE SAYS TO ME, I'M SO AND SUCH KID.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE NAME.

I SAID OH, HOW YOU DOING?

MAN, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

HE SAID MAN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE YEARS THAT YOU WERE A RESIDENT OFFICER AND YOU TOOK US TO CAMP AND YOU DID THESE OTHER THINGS WITH US.

YOU STOPPED OVER TO OUR HOUSE.

AND HIS DAD WAS A TROUBLEMAKER TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP I BUILT WITH HIS FATHER TO THIS DAY HE INTRODUCES ME AS HIS BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER TO EVERYBODY HE MEETS.

HIS CHILDREN COULD HAVE WENT THE SAME PATH THAT DAD WENT.

DAD WAS ALWAYS IN AND OUT OF JAIL, ALWAYS DEALING DRUGS AND IN GANG ACTIVITY.

HIS KID IS NOW A YOUNG MAN, I SAY A KID, BUT IS A MAILMAN AND WAS DELIVERING MY MAIL AND I KNEW WHEN HE SAID OFFICER ERIC HE HAD TO KNOW ME FROM -- THEY CAN'T SAY MY LAST NAME, SO IT WAS OFFICER ERIC.

>> I CAN'T SAY YOUR LAST NAME.

>> SOMETIMES I CAN'T SAY MY LAST NAME.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH OF -- I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT WAS THE MEASURE ON THAT?

WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT I DID IN THIS KID'S LIFE THAT KEPT HIM OUT OF THAT?

I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS.

>> LET'S CONTINUE IN THAT THOUGHT, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SET UP A YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BUT BEFORE WE TAKE THIS PROGRAM, YOU SAID THERE ARE TOO MANY GUNS WITH TEENAGER.

>> YES.

>> IS THIS PART OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM -- HEAR FROM THEM AND SEE WHAT THEY WANT?

>> CORRECT.

I THINK WE OFTENTIMES AS ADULTS, I'M A FATHER.

I'M A GRANDFATHER.

SOMETIMES WE THINK WE KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS.

IMAGINE NOW AS A POLICE OFFICER, AS A CHIEF OF POLICE, WE HAVE COMMAND STAFF THAT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR MANY YEARS, WE OFTEN THINK WE KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS.

WE DON'T, QUITE HONESTLY.

WE'RE DEALING WITH JUVENILES OF DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC, A DIFFERENT GENERATION.

AND SO WHAT IS IT THAT THEY WANT?

AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT IS REALLY TALKING TO THEM.

WHAT IS IT THAT -- WE OFTEN THINK LET'S START OFF A FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

LET'S DO A BASKETBALL.

EVERYBODY DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT THEY WANT TO SEE?

WHAT DO THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE COMMUNITY?

WHERE ARE WE MISSING THE MARK WITH THEM?

AND THE ONLY WAY I'M GOING TO FIND OUT IS TALKING TO THEM, GETTING SOME ADVICE FROM THEM AND REALLY LISTEN.

AND I DID THIS WHERE I CAME FROM AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED FROM THEM QUICKLY WAS WHEN WE MET WITH THEM, THEY DIDN'T WANT US IN UNIFORM.

DON'T COME IN UNIFORM.

WITH YOUR GUN AND -- JUST COME AS YOU ARE AND LET'S TALK AND LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATIONS.

AND YOU LEARN SO MANY THINGS FROM THESE MEN AND WOMEN THAT YOU OFTENTIMES WOULD NOT KNOW.

>> YOU ARE THREE WEEKS ON THE JOB.

WHEN YOU GET MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE COMMUNITY, CAN WE HAVE YOU BACK ON AND TALK MORE ABOUT THE POGRAMS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO INITIATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I'D BE HAPPY TO COME BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CHIEF ERIC ECHEVARRIA, THE POLICE CHIEF OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, WELCOME TO THE CITY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE APPRECIATE CHIEF ECHEVARRIA BEING ON "AT ISSUE" AND NEXT TIME WE'LL BE JOINED AGAIN WHEN WE TALK WITH -- AND THE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT PARTNERING WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

WELL, NEXT WEEK ON THAT ISSUE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.