PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria calls it a “public service announcement” after urging violence to stop following a mass shooting and two homicides one week ago.
But, a new social media post Thursday which featured Echevarria standing in front of a Peoria Police SWAT Team armored “BearCat” vehicle, had a similar message but perhaps a tougher tone.
“I will reassure all of you that we are not afraid to use every available tool and resource that we have, and this BearCat and our SWAT team is one of them,” said Echevarria. “As we come into this weekend, we want everybody to have a great weekend, a great and safe weekend. However, if you want to disturb that for the great people of Peoria, we may be knocking at your door.”
Echevarria also used the video to provide an update on what he says his department and law enforcement partners have done since last week.
“We have made numerous arrests. We have seized numerous firearms. We have made numerous traffic stops. We have written numerous citations,” said Echevarria, not going into specifics. “We won’t stop and we can’t stop doing that and we’ll continue to work hard to make Peoria safe for everyone.”
Echevarria says the SWAT Team was used in executing a search warrant during the last week.
You can watch the full video below.
