A recent string of burglaries in the city of Washington and surrounding cities in Tazewell and Woodford counties has left local police searching for answers.
Since Aug. 1, there have been at least 15 burglaries in Washington alone — six residential and nine automobiles, according to Washington Deputy Police Chief Don Volk.
The Illinois State Police District 08 , announced that Roadside Safety Checks will be conducted in Peoria and Tazewell Counties during the month of December, according to Captain Dean Kennedy.
The Butch Gudat Fund is a charitable fund established to assist Tri-County firefighters, their families and their communities. The fund commemorates the dedication and bravery of Peoria Fire Captain Butch Gudat, who died fighting an apartment complex fire on Main Street on Jan. 23, 1983.
Those in the area who are interested in becoming a firefighter now have an outlet to help them reach their future career goals.
The Washington Fire Department Exploring Program was recently established in an effort to reach out to young men and women in the community and increase their knowledge of the careers in the fire service industry.
The slogan “Let’s slow down — it’s our town” is what Chief of Police Jim Kuchenbecker saw on a recent trip to a Chicago suburb, and he would love to apply it to Washington.
“We have a lot of people who walk in town, a lot of people who bicycle and a lot of young children,” said Kuchenbecker. “We want our pedestrians and motorists to be safe. That is why we want people to obey the traffic laws and slow down.”
After 27 years at the Washington Police Department, Sgt. Dave Stark experienced a first two weeks ago.
Just one week before he retired, Stark apprehended William P. Hill, 27, of Laomi, only 40 minutes after he allegedly robbed PNC Bank in Morton.
Two pitbulls reportedly attacked and killed a pet chihuahua named “Rex” on Oct. 10 in Sunnyland and are now in the possession of Tazewell County Animal Control.
East Peoria police were called to 111 Loren St. shortly before 7:30 p.m. with a report of a dog attack.
The Washington Fire Department responded to an early morning fire at 608 N. Main St. in Washington Thursday.
Plans are in the works for the Washington Police Department to get some much needed upgrades.
The city council authorized the city manager to enter into arrangements with Peoria’s Architectural Design Group at its Sept. 20 meeting. The total project cost is estimated at $1.5 million.
“It’s a win-win for everybody involved,” Police Chief Jim Kuchenbecker said. “The taxpayers benefit because we’re able to do this at half the cost of a new facility.”
The Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System awarded $13,668 to the Washington Police Department for two ruggedized computers mounted in patrol cars. These computers provide the ability to access state and national crime file and intelligence databases and communicate digitally with other law enforcement agencies statewide.
A Washington man pleaded guilty Friday to surfing the Internet for child porn.
EAST PEORIA — A man was killed Friday night in a car crash on the McClugage Bridge that sent two others to a Peoria hospital.
Motorists driving along Wilmor Road may have noticed more activity, and a lot of car wrecks, than usual near the Washington Fire House Saturday.
However, these were staged accidents, and many of the firefighters were from as close as Deer Creek and as far away as Yuma, Ariz.
Since June 5, when a tornado destroyed much of downtown Elmwood, Washington Chief of Police Jim Kuchenbecker said he has been asked a question several times: What if we were Elmwood?
That Saturday night was a close call for Washington. About 40 miles east of Elmwood, a different tornado touched down on the west side of town before traveling north to Germantown Hills and Metamora.
Ever wonder what it takes to be a firefighter or emergency medical technician? How are they trained to handle emergencies? What are some simple things you can do to be better prepared in case of an emergency?
These questions and more will be answered during the inaugural Washington Fire Department’s Citizen’s Fire Academy.
With advances in wireless technology, the cell phone is, in many cases, no longer merely a phone. Many come equipped with cameras, MP3 players, maps, texting capabilities — there is an app for nearly everything. While the devices bring increasing options for their multi-tasking owners, using one in a work zone could come with a price — $75 to be exact.
Many drivers discovered this last week as Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation worked together to educate drivers on laws that are enforced in an attempt to keep attention on the road when workers are present.
A Washington man was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday for causing a hit-and-run drunken-driving accident last summer that seriously hurt a Chillicothe woman and killed her dog.
Michael A. Rennie, 55, had hoped for probation, but that was quickly rejected by Peoria County Circuit Judge James Shadid.
