Most Wanted List Makes A Comeback

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 13, 2010 8:45PM

It's something that hasn't been used regularly since the days of Al Capone but it's making a comeback, galvanized by the uptick in drug- and gang-related violence. The Chicago Crime Commission which once put out the Public Enemies list, discontinued some 70 years ago, has released a new 10 Most Wanted list. Arthur Bilek, the Crime Commission's executive VP, said in a statement [PDF]:

“Many of the criminals on our list are gang members and drug dealers and are part of the culture of violence responsible for the shootings and murders that plague many of Chicago’s neighborhoods and victimize our children. These criminals hide behind a wall of silence, where good people are fearful or choose to do nothing rather than to expose and rid their communities of this criminals."

Indeed, all 10 on the new list (which you can view here [PDF]) are wanted for, well, either murder or drug charges. And, lest you want to go pull a Batman, Bilek reminds us, “The fugitives on the Chicago Crime Commission’s Most Wanted list are in hiding and are wanted by law enforcement agencies for a variety of crimes. They all have one thing in common…they should be considered armed and dangerous. A citizen should not attempt to apprehend these individuals themselves."