Council accepts $1.36 million Secretary of State grant for auto-crime task force

The Peoria City Council voted unanimously July 22 to accept a Secretary of State grant totaling $1,360,600 for the Greater Peoria Auto Crimes (GPAC) Task Force and to amend the city’s 2025 revised general fund budget to recognize the grant proceeds and related expenditures.

The chief of police told the council the grant aligns with the city’s community safety strategic goal and is the third time the GPAC funding has been brought before council. The chief reported motor vehicle thefts had declined by nearly 50% from 2024 to 2025 in the department’s data and that recovery rates rose by 13 percentage points over the same period; he credited collaborative work among law enforcement partners and noted the sheriff and Secretary of State representatives participate in the initiative.

Councilmember Allen moved approval of the acceptance of funds; Councilmember Cyr seconded. The council later voted unanimously to adopt the required budget ordinance amendment (a two-thirds vote item) to recognize the grant in the 2025 revised general fund budget.

Staff said the GPAC is a multi-agency initiative launched in 2023 and that day-to-day operations involve the Secretary of State’s GPAC office along with Peoria police detectives. The state’s attorney was unable to attend and extended apologies.

The grant acceptance and budget amendment direct staff to record the funds in the general fund and to proceed with GPAC activities under the terms of the grant; council did not attach conditions or amendments to the funding in the public record.