DonP
Member
In the "Do as we say not as we do" column, this from the ISRA on the arrest of a Chicago based CeaseFire staffer.
Maybe he'll be one of Jesse and Pfleger's spokepeople this afternoon about getting "illegal guns" off the street and away from drug dealers in Chicago. CeasFire is one of his big supporters. I love Slutkin's response, ... well, nobody's perfect at screening employees.
Go to the Tribune at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-ceasefire28_webaug28,1,5184549.story[/url]
Anti-gang worker had guns, drugs, cops say
By Angela Rozas
Tribune staff reporter
August 28, 2007
An outreach worker for CeaseFire, a Chicago-based group that tries to curb gang conflicts and stop shootings, was arrested over the weekend after an AK-47, a handgun, live marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia were allegedly found in his home, police said.
Louie Velasquez, 23, of the 3400 block of West 37th Place had been working with the program for about four months, said Gary Slutkin, founder of the program. After the organization learned of his arrest, Velasquez was fired, he said.
Velasquez was alone in the home when he was arrested about 10 p.m. Saturday and charged with cannabis production, owning a firearm and ammunition without a valid firearm owner's identification card, police said. Police said he had boxes of ammunition, sun lamps, a loaded .38-caliber revolver and gang paraphernalia, in addition to CeaseFire pamphlets and T-shirts.
CeaseFire's mission is to reduce violence and mediate gang disputes. The group, which has been credited with helping to reduce violence in the city in recent years, employs primarily former gang members who are familiar with the gangs and people in the neighborhoods where they work.
Slutkin said he doesn't know the particulars of Velasquez's case, but he said the possibility of a former gang member being active, or "lapsing" back into gang life is possible, though he believes rare, in his organization.
The program thoroughly screens people who want to work for the organization, he said, taking only a small percentage of applicants. He also said that the organization trains and monitors its members to ensure they are not involved in illicit activity. The organization has about 150 paid staff members, and it has had about 300 during the organization's history.
"Nobody can be 100 percent in their recruitment, selection, supervision and training. But nobody has worked at it more," Slutkin said.
Maybe he'll be one of Jesse and Pfleger's spokepeople this afternoon about getting "illegal guns" off the street and away from drug dealers in Chicago. CeasFire is one of his big supporters. I love Slutkin's response, ... well, nobody's perfect at screening employees.
Go to the Tribune at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-ceasefire28_webaug28,1,5184549.story[/url]
Anti-gang worker had guns, drugs, cops say
By Angela Rozas
Tribune staff reporter
August 28, 2007
An outreach worker for CeaseFire, a Chicago-based group that tries to curb gang conflicts and stop shootings, was arrested over the weekend after an AK-47, a handgun, live marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia were allegedly found in his home, police said.
Louie Velasquez, 23, of the 3400 block of West 37th Place had been working with the program for about four months, said Gary Slutkin, founder of the program. After the organization learned of his arrest, Velasquez was fired, he said.
Velasquez was alone in the home when he was arrested about 10 p.m. Saturday and charged with cannabis production, owning a firearm and ammunition without a valid firearm owner's identification card, police said. Police said he had boxes of ammunition, sun lamps, a loaded .38-caliber revolver and gang paraphernalia, in addition to CeaseFire pamphlets and T-shirts.
CeaseFire's mission is to reduce violence and mediate gang disputes. The group, which has been credited with helping to reduce violence in the city in recent years, employs primarily former gang members who are familiar with the gangs and people in the neighborhoods where they work.
Slutkin said he doesn't know the particulars of Velasquez's case, but he said the possibility of a former gang member being active, or "lapsing" back into gang life is possible, though he believes rare, in his organization.
The program thoroughly screens people who want to work for the organization, he said, taking only a small percentage of applicants. He also said that the organization trains and monitors its members to ensure they are not involved in illicit activity. The organization has about 150 paid staff members, and it has had about 300 during the organization's history.
"Nobody can be 100 percent in their recruitment, selection, supervision and training. But nobody has worked at it more," Slutkin said.
