•HRES 1465 IH 
agencies to combat rising violence and drug gangs oper-
ating 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 initia-
tives 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 news-
papers, 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, Fire-
arms and Explosives and the Waukegan Police Depart-
ment Neighborhood Enforcement Team (referred to in 
this resolution as ‘‘NET’’) resulted in nine indictments 
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•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, in-
cluding— 
(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 Dis-
ciple 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 mari-
juana, 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 Broad-
way 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 inves-
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•HRES 1465 IH 
tigation six suspects were arrested after a 28-count in-
dictment by a grand jury; 
Whereas through the actions of the North Chicago Police De-
partment, other local departments, the Lake County 
Sheriff’s office, and the Lake County Metropolitan En-
forcement Group, a menace to the community was elimi-
nated; 
Whereas Detective Luis Rivera of the North Chicago Police 
Department Tactical Narcotics Team exemplifies the out-
standing 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 patrol-
man, and former SWAT officer and beyond his tireless 
dedication to the department Detective Rivera has con-
sistently displayed an extraordinary commitment to his 
community: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes the excellent work of law enforcement officers in 
Lake County, Illinois—including the Northern Illinois 
Gang Taskforce and the Waukegan Police Department 
Neighborhood Enforcement Team—and their cooperative 
work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives agents. 
Æ 
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