SPRINGFIELD, IL…Today the Illinois Senate passed legislation sponsored by State Representative Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) that moves an innovative anti-gang initiative dealing with cyber gang activity under the jurisdiction of the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG). The bill, HB 3716, awaits Governor Quinn’s signature.

“Lake County MEG has additional resources and much needed staffing that can benefit the cyber gang unit,” said Rep. Sullivan. “This anti-gang initiative empowers law enforcement with the tools they need to make a major effort to crack down on gang activity through use of the Internet.”

“Lake County MEG will enable the program to be even more effective in its ability to utilize modern technology in order to track and prevent gang activity,” continued Sullivan. “I’m pleased that Lake County MEG will be able to take charge of the massive responsibility that comes with running a pilot program benefiting the entire state.”

In Illinois, there are currently 9 Metropolitan Enforcement Groups (MEG) comprised of officers from state police, county and local police, and 14 Illinois State Police sponsored drug task forces. These multi-jurisdictional law enforcement units focus on the investigation of illegal drugs, gangs, and weapons offenses.

“Gangs have taken their neighborhood feuds, colors, and rituals online, using websites to communicate with each other and sometimes to pick online fights with rival gangs,” said Sullivan. “What starts online can quickly spill onto the streets and so the more we empower police agencies to monitor these activities to learn all they can about area gangs and their members, the more successful we can be in tracking and preventing gang activity.”