The Peoria Police Department (246 sworn officers) announced that overall statistics regarding gun violence last year were down compared to 2021, and that downturn reversed a three-year upward trend from 2019 to 2021.

Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria said the decline in shootings and homicides in 2022 can be attributed to several factors, including upgraded technology and its new anonymous tip tool, powered by tip411.

Mayor Rita Ali said, “This is no accident. Progress is being made,” she said. “Look at tip411 – we have already had more than 700 tips since that was started. That also factors into solving crime and building resident engagement.”

“It’s a different relationship now,” said Ali, who previously led the city’s police community relations commission. “I think that our new chief is helping to build more trust between communities and neighborhoods and police.”

Peoria residents can submit a tip via text message by texting the keyword PEORIAPD and then their tip and sending it to 847411. 

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Peoria Journal Star: “This is no accident”: Gun violence in Peoria is down after years of increases, police say