State Grants Could Boost Retail Theft, Traffic Enforcement By Edwardsville Police

April 7th Edwardsville City Council Meeting

EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department is applying for two state grants to assist with traffic enforcement and retail theft investigations.

City Council members unanimously approved two resolutions last week allowing the Police Department to apply for the Organized Retail Crime Grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

The department is seeking $59,200 under the Organized Retail Crime Grant to be used for officer training, overtime details, and equipment and technology directed at combating retail theft in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force. The grant program runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Alderwoman Jennifer Warren said the grant is “aimed at investigating, prosecuting, and deterring organized retail crime,” adding the city has applied for and received this grant in prior years. However, as more cities have become aware of the grant and the application pool has widened, she said the city may be approved for less this year than in years past.

The Police Department is also applying for up to $39,590 under the STEP grant from IDOT to ramp up their enforcement of various traffic laws. This year’s grant program runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.

“The grant is to help with high visibility enforcement – for police departments to hire back police officers for additional enforcement of impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, et cetera,” Warren said.

A full recording of the April 7, 2026 Edwardsville City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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