Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine formed a new Cross-River Crime Task Force in response to crime flowing from across the river into Madison County.
The task force was created to “sustain a county-wide focus” on the crime coming from Missouri, according to a press release.
The task force is comprised of law enforcement officials from the federal, state and local levels who work together to stop individuals from using the interstate highways and bridges to cross state lines and commit crimes in Madison County.
The task force’s mission is to combine the efforts of the different law enforcement agencies to protect Madison County communities and bring criminals to justice, the press release states.
“We must have a safe community, and I believe preventing cross-river crime is Madison County law enforcement’s most important fight right now,” Haine stated. “It is an honor to bring together local, county, state, and federal leaders to focus on this pivotal issue. Citizens know cross-river crime is an urgent problem in the riverbend, and this new effort will allow us all to fight it together.”
Haine is hosting an inaugural meeting for the task force Friday at noon at the pavilion outside the Madison County Administration building.
He will be joined by Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Madison County Sheriff John Lakin, US Marshall Brad Maxwell, US Attorney Steven Weinhoeft, regional agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Agency, Buraeu of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and chiefs from multiple Madison County municipal police departments.