The University Police Department’s new street crimes unit had its first success Saturday in a drug bust involving the arrests of five nonstudents.
The unit was formed at the end of last month and is made up of two undercover officers solely dedicated to long-term investigations of crimes such as armed robberies and drug-related incidences.
Capt. Skip Frost of the University Police Department said the department is pleased with the unit’s early success.
“We’ve wanted to do this for some time,” Frost said. “Now we are in the position to do it, and we have also seen the needs with the crime that we see increases in, especially robberies.”
He said one of the department’s goals is to find the roots of known problems and prevent crimes from happening.
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“You don’t have time to sit and watch something that you believe to be a developing or potential problems,” Frost said. “The idea is to be proactive instead of reactive.”
The University Police Department is not the first agency to develop such a unit in the area. The Urbana Police Department formed its unit in 2003.
Lt. Robert Fitzgerald of the Urbana Police Department said the unit has three officers on duty, which is coordinating with the new University unit.
“It’s working out very well for us,” Fitzgerald said. “They have a great working relationship between our street crimes unit and their (University) unit.”
Fitzgerald said the street crimes unit of Urbana Police Department also supports patrolling during special events such as Unofficial St.Patrick’s Day.
Champaign County has its own street crimes unit; while Champaign does not, it has its own narcotics unit.
University police continue to investigate the incident from Saturday.
Drug enforcement detective Joe McCullough said the investigation has led to them to believe the assortment of drugs, which included ecstasy, MDMA, cocaine, cannabis and nitrous oxide, were intended for sale. Police also discovered $3,400 along with the drugs.
University police Lt. Matt Myrick said 50 grams of drugs are unknown.
“We have sent those unidentified drugs to the Illinois State Crime lab to verify what it is.” Myrick said.
The unit had this week off but will resume duty Friday night.
Carina can be reached at [email protected].
