Illinois State Police reports crime reduction efforts in the Metro East continue to make communities safer with the lowest number of homicides in East St. Louis in at least 45 years.
In 2020, to combat the problem of gun violence in East St. Louis and ensure investigations are handled professionally and with integrity, ISP created the Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG), a national urban policing model. ISP says the model is reducing crime and building trust with the community.
Since the implementation of PSEG, the number of homicides and non-fatal shootings in East St. Louis has decreased each year. From 2020 through 2025, homicides are down 56% and non-fatal shootings are down 61%. In 2025 there were 50 non-fatal shootings and 15 homicides.
For the first time ever, ISP Special Agents cleared 100% of those homicides in a year. The FBI defines a cleared case as either when an offender is arrested, charged, and the case is turned over to the court for prosecution, or there are circumstances outside the control of law enforcement that prohibit the agency from arresting, charging, and prosecuting the offender.
ISP says use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras has been instrumental in aiding criminal investigations and reducing violent crime through intelligence-led patrols in the region. Currently, there are 158 ALPR cameras in St. Clair and Madison counties, with more being planned.
