Billboard promises cash for reporting felons with guns

By Robert Sanchez

August 9, 2000 Web posted at: 1:15 PM EDT (1715 GMT)

ARLINGTON, Illinois (Daily Herald) -- The Illinois State Crime Commission is stepping up its efforts to have felons with guns jailed before they use the weapons in a crime. And to ensure those efforts don't go unnoticed, the commission is turning to good old advertising.

The organization has purchased billboard space along Route 83 near Oakbrook Terrace to announce that it's offering $1,000 rewards to anyone calling 911 to report a felon with a gun.

"This is the first time in America anyone has ever advertised a reward like this," said Jerry Elsner, executive director of the Illinois State Crime Commission. "We want criminals to think twice about having guns."

According to Elsner, it's illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to possess a handgun or rifle. But, he said, such offenses aren't often reported. So the crime commission is starting to offer the $1,000 rewards as part of a pilot program in DuPage County called "Project Exile."

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The only catch to getting the reward money is that the weapons possession tip must result in an arrest and conviction.

"If it works here, we are going to expand it to the rest of the state," Elsner said.

He went on to say that he considers the reward program to be a "proactive approach" to fighting crime.

"We don't want to wait for there to be a filled body bag and grieving family," he said. "We are going to get these criminals off the street before they commit their crimes."

The billboard advertising the pilot program is located on the west side of Route 83 about a mile north of Roosevelt Road. Right now it can be seen by motorists traveling north on Route 83. Elsner said the plan is to move the sign so it faces southbound traffic in about two months.

So far, the crime commission plans to keep the sign for three months. It's going to cost the group about $3,900.

"We wanted a billboard along Route 83 because we knew it would give us great exposure," Elsner said. "It's a good location, and a lot of people are going to see it."

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