Illinois Quick Hits: Police report drop in homicide rates in East St. Louis

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – State officials are crediting the Public Safety Enforcement Group for East St. Louis reporting its lowest number of homicides in at least 45 years.

Illinois State Police created the PSEG, a national urban policing model, in 2020. East St. Louis homicide numbers dropped each year from 34 in 2020 to 15 in 2025. Non-fatal shootings dropped 61% during that time.

ONARGA BOMB POSSESSION SENTENCE

A federal judge has sentenced an Onarga man to five years in prison plus three years of supervised release for possession of an unregistered destructive device in April 2025.

Prosecutors said James R. Nelson, 40, refused to relinquish the bomb during a routine traffic stop in Iroquois County, fled and then barricaded himself inside his mother’s house for about eight hours before he was arrested.

Nelson pleaded guilty in October 2025.

CHICAGO INSPECTOR REPORTS 311 ISSUES

A Chicago Office of Inspector General audit has found a lack of clarity and transparency in the city’s 311 non-emergency request process.

According to the OIG report, 311’s public-facing platforms do not provide users with clear information on the overall process, request statuses and work order timeframes.

In response, the Office of Emergency Management and Communication acknowledged the need for better communication to the public and more consistent training and communication with city departments.