IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1465 

Recognizing the work of the law enforcement officers in Lake County, Illinois, 

their cooperative work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 

and Explosives agents, and expressing congressional support for their 

ongoing work protecting Lake County communities from drugs and 

gangs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 

Mr. KIRK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the work of the law enforcement officers in 

Lake County, Illinois, their cooperative work with the 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 

agents, and expressing congressional support for their 

ongoing work protecting Lake County communities from 

drugs and gangs. 

Whereas recent figures from the State of Illinois show a 3.1 

percent increase in serious crime in Lake County from 

2005 to 2006, while there was a 1.7 percent drop in 

statewide violent and property crimes during the same 

time period; 

Whereas the recently created Northern Illinois Gang 

Taskforce coordinates Federal and local law enforcement 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 1465 IH 

agencies to combat rising violence and drug gangs operating in Lake County, Illinois; 

Whereas the Northern Illinois Gang Taskforce allows local 

law enforcement to pursue Federal prosecution and 

longer sentencing, increasing the likelihood of low-level 

gang members, who now could face 20 years in Federal 

prison without parole instead of less than five years in 

State prison, turning against their gangs; 

Whereas other regional law enforcement cooperative initiatives have been launched to tackle the problem of rising 

crime, including the Lake County Major Crimes Task 

Force and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group; 

Whereas Congressman Mark Steven Kirk and Federal and 

local police teamed up again in March, 2008, to launch 

Lake County’s ‘‘Top Ten Most Wanted List’’ to raise the 

public profile of fugitive gang leaders, and after newspapers, radio, and television networks publicized the 

Wanted List tips flooded in to law enforcement agencies 

resulting in the arrest of three gang leaders; 

Whereas last year the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 

and Explosives, the Lake County State’s Attorney Office, 

and the Waukegan Police Department announced the 

conclusion of Operation ‘‘Smack That,’’ targeting the 

heroin drug ring of the Black P-Stones, a gang involved 

in a sophisticated drug operation—including selling drugs 

near Waukegan public school and churches—based in 

Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion, Illinois; 

Whereas the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Waukegan Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team (referred to in 

this resolution as ‘‘NET’’) resulted in nine indictments 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 1465 IH 

and the seizure of $19,000 worth of heroin, firearms, and 

body armor; 

Whereas in the past year NET detectives have been involved 

in several dangerous situations involving criminals, including— 

(1) an incident where a Latin King Gang member 

attempted to shoot members of NET; 

(2) an attempt by a suspect, during the execution of 

a search warrant, to pull a gun on members of NET and 

where the suspect was arrested after a brief struggle; and 

(3) the pursuit and arrest of a Maniac Latin Disciple Gang member, paroled just 10 days earlier, on foot 

through a city park with a loaded hand gun and where 

information had been obtained that this gang member 

was looking to shoot a police officer; 

Whereas since 2006 the NET has been responsible for— 

(1) 869 gang and drug investigations; 

(2) 793 arrests; 

(3) executing 186 search warrants; 

(4) confiscating 145 guns from gang members and 

drug dealers; 

(5) seizing 91 kilos of cocaine, 109 pounds of marijuana, and 807 grams of heroin; 

(6) seizing over $462,000 in drug money; and 

(7) solving 43 gang shootings; 

Whereas in March, 2007, North Chicago police completed 

‘‘Operation Eight Ball,’’ an eight month investigation 

into an open-air drug market in the 1300 block of Broadway Avenue; 

Whereas Operation Eight Ball under cover agents risked 

their lives posing as drug dealers and buyers to line up 

evidence against the criminals and following their invesVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:08 Sep 19, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1465.IH HR1465

smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
4 

•HRES 1465 IH 

tigation six suspects were arrested after a 28-count indictment by a grand jury; 

Whereas through the actions of the North Chicago Police Department, other local departments, the Lake County 

Sheriff’s office, and the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, a menace to the community was eliminated; 

Whereas Detective Luis Rivera of the North Chicago Police 

Department Tactical Narcotics Team exemplifies the outstanding service of North Chicago Police officers; and 

Whereas aside from fulfilling his duties as a narcotics and 

gang investigator, Detective Rivera also serves on the 

North Chicago Police Department Major Crime Evidence 

Team, as a firearms instructor, tech officer, bike patrolman, and former SWAT officer and beyond his tireless 

dedication to the department Detective Rivera has consistently displayed an extraordinary commitment to his 

community: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes the excellent work of law enforcement officers in 

3 Lake County, Illinois—including the Northern Illinois 

4 Gang Taskforce and the Waukegan Police Department 

5 Neighborhood Enforcement Team—and their cooperative 

6 work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 

7 Explosives agents. 

Æ 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS