URBANA – Two months after the newly appointed Urbana Police Chief started his position in June – Larry Boone held his first press conference on August 16.
Chief Boone has been a law enforcement professional for 33 years and retired as Chief of Police in Norfolk, Virginia before finding his way to Urbana.
“I was the first officer in the history of the department to be promoted at every rank, I have been promoted nine times to get to be chief,” said Boone.
Boone says coming from a much larger department gives him the ability to be prepared for anything that comes his way.
“Urbana didn’t have the violent crime that I’m used to,” said Boone. “That’s the fortunate thing, but because I’m used to it, I know how to go about addressing it.”
He says this is also true of police involved shootings.
Recently, in Rantoul there were two separate police involved shootings just four months apart from one another.
Boone says he is aware of those events and knows how to address them if they happen – and how to prevent them.
“Hopefully, I never have to experience that, but I do have a process in place,” said Boone.
After a Fox Illinois reporter posed a question regarding recent youth gun violence in the area, Boone said he is aware of the problem and that it’s not confined to the area.
He says as a “progressive” chief he plans to have more “authentic” engagement with the community and intersect with the youth.
“Whether it’s through the school system… we’re going to be in those communities, we’re going to be in the churches,” said Boone. “We’re going to have an opportunity here to not just police, but police from a guardian lens.”
However, he says, reducing gun violence among the youth is not just a police problem, it’s a community problem.
He says many of his plans come from programs that are implemented at his previous department in Norfolk.
“Addressing youth crime, it’s going to take all of us,” said Boone. “Gone are the days you’re going to put it on the police. That’s not even fair – not even practical. It’s not even doable, but together, we can move mountains.”