Streator residents press officials for answers on rising violence, policing and school safety

Streator City residents, students and law-enforcement representatives met to air concerns about gun violence, police staffing and school safety, with speakers urging more resources and clearer public communication.

At a community meeting, Matt Tedder, a representative of the State's Attorney's Office, said the office is limited in what it can do by state law and court decisions. "We didn't pass the SAFETY Act. The state of Illinois did. We... don't really agree with a lot of the SAFETY Act," Tedder said, adding that prosecutors and courts make individual custody decisions that can leave local officials frustrated. "We're handcuffed by it," he said.

The matter drew repeated calls for more police presence and working surveillance cameras. Residents said camera systems purchased or installed by outside agencies were not functioning in problem areas; some speakers said the likely solution discussed in the meeting — upgrading cameras — would require additional funding and could mean higher property taxes. A resident…