HARVEY MAYOR CREATES FALSE MYTH THAT HARVEY IS SAFE BY BOLSTERING THAT HOMICIDES ARE DOWN

WHILE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOT HAS INCREASED.

THE YOUTH OF HARVEY HAVE NOW JOKINGLY NICK NAMED HARVEY

 “THE UKRAINE” DUE TO NIGHTLY SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE.

 90 PLUS MURDERS IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS IN A SIX MILE TOWN

LESS THAN 16 MURDERS SOLVED, NEARLY 76 HOMICIDES UNSOLVED

6 POLICE CHIEFS WITHIN 44 MONTHS.

(Harvey, Ill) Anthony McCaskill-Successful Businessman and Former Harvey Park District President- is expressing his utter disbelief in the current Harvey Mayor’s attempt to “hoodwink” the residents of Harvey with bogus and misleading crime statistics.

Recently the Harvey Mayor released a crime statistic claiming homicides were down 55%. But the Mayor has failed to publish that the number of shootings and actual people shot had increased significantly in 2022. This Mayor continues to attempt to “hoodwink” the residents of Harvey by creating a false myth that somehow Harvey is all of a sudden, a safe place to live.

However the gross incompetence of the current administration is truly reflected in the mismanagement of the police department. The mayor has had six police chiefs during his first and only tenure in office. That’s less than four years in office!

“There is no justification for a victory lap when the number of shootings and people shot increased in 2022. Which means more people have been shot and are walking around with fractures from bullets.” says Anthony McCaskill

The children in Harvey have become so immune to hearing gun shots nightly that they jokingly have renamed Harvey. "The Ukraine"...meaning that they hear as much gunfire at night as the children are currently hearing in the midst of war in Ukraine.

During the previous four years there were 55 homicides with a closure rate of 31%. During this current administration’s tenure of office, there have been 90 plus homicides with a closure rate of only 16%. That equates to 76 homicides not closed or unsolved in a 6 mile town!!

All other categories of crimes have increased including but not limited to shootings, robberies, carjackings, burglaries and sexual assaults.

Having six police chiefs in less than four years has crippled the department’s ability to appropriately address crime. Due to a lack of sound management many opportunities and strategies have yet to be developed or re-instituted.

The Police department has severely reduced services to the citizens of Harvey.

Some of which include:

• HPD no longer has a task force that would be used to reduce violent crimes in high-crime areas.

• HPD no longer has an intelligence division. This would be used to develop informants from the community that would ultimately assist in preventing crimes and apprehending suspects.

• HPD no longer maps crime. Mapping crimes allow officers to be aware of high-crime areas and the particular crimes that are being committed. And in some cases, it would assist HPD in giving fair warning to the public when certain crimes are shown to be committed in a pattern.

• HPD no longer has cadet programs or youth prevention programs.

• HPD no longer has a community outreach or neighborhood watch liaison.

McCaskill adds, “Harvey is clearly enduring what is commonly known as a state of emergency, Women, children, and seniors are consistently under attacked in what has become a “lawless” community. If elected, my first order of business is to immediately fire the current police chief and appoint a new police chief who is highly decorated and qualified to ensure that integrity, sound management and a no nonsense to fighting crime is implemented within the Harvey Police Department.”

In 2022, Anthony McCaskill has filed his necessary nominating petitions in his anticipated run for Mayor of Harvey, Illinois.

After much prayer, meditation and consultation with his family, Anthony McCaskill concluded his exploratory committee’s research and analysis of the upcoming February Primary elections and submitted his petitions on Monday, November 27th.

“After being approached by numerous community leaders, elected officials and clergymen, I’ am more energized, confident, and firm in my decision to run. Harvey has remained in a state of emergency under the misguided and defunct leadership of Chris Clark. The residents are beyond their insult levels as it relates this inept administration.” says McCaskill.

McCaskill has already received numerous endorsements from local, regional, and state leaders. He recently received the endorsement of the former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

“Harvey needs a great fiscal manager of its budget and a clear vision for the future. Anthony McCaskill possesses a unique finance background and an extensive career in government that spans two decades. He can coalesce individuals from all walks of life and has a keen sense of the needs that can jump start a paradigm shift in the overall operations of the Harvey government.” says Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Anthony McCaskill is a lifelong Harvey resident who currently serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee in his role as Trustee of the Harvey Public Library Board. He also serves as Chairman of the South Suburban Region Black Chamber of Commerce.

McCaskill has pledged to residents that he will work relentlessly to transform Harvey into a fiscally accountable and transparent municipality. He feels that it is essential to safeguard the health, cleanliness, and safety of the community in ways that will reflect the needs of the people who live, work, and visit Harvey.

“We must create jobs and improve the quality of life for all Harvey residents. But we also must pursue opportunities to accelerate and expand the economic vitality of Harvey’s business community and neighborhoods.” says Anthony McCaskill.

McCaskill is happily married to his beautiful wife, Dr. Kisha McCaskill. They have four adult children and four grandchildren.