No, not the criminals that are shooting at buses or committing armed robbery. The police are busy finding the real, hardened criminals in Peoria: Smokers.
Yes, when I survey the crime being committed in Peoria, I would have to put “smoking in bars” at the top of my list. How can city residents have any peace of mind knowing that some Joe down at Duffys Tap is puffing on a cigarette? I mean, really!
Fortunately for our fair city, the police are on it:
SMOKING VIOLATIONS. The Police Department has completed an unannounced inspection of bars in Peoria for potential smoking violations. The inspections took place over 4 separate occasions, for a total of 90 man hours. A complete list of establishments that were inspected is attached. A total of 8 citations were issued at 3 different locations, as follows:
- Cheers and Beers (4201 SW Adams), 2 citations for smokers, 1 citation to the bar for allowing smoking
- Duffys Tap (1900 W. Antoinette), 1 citation for a smoker, 1 citation to the bar for allowing smoking
- Behmer’s Dugout (2422 N. Knoxville), 2 citations for smokers, 1 citation to the bar for allowing smoking
Prior to the officers departure from each location, officers identified themselves to staff and informed them of their purpose and the outcome of the visit. This operation was possible due to Sheriff McCoy’s $5,000 sharing of a grant which he had been awarded for this purpose.
(Source: Issues Update 7/22/2011.) That’s right — 90 man hours and $5,000 in tax money (don’t let the “grant” language fool you — that just means it’s coming out of your left pocket instead of your right pocket). I’m glad we’re spending our time and money on ferreting out these scofflaws. Don’t you feel safer?