Kendall Perry

Under Illinois law, all police agencies will be required to begin wearing body cameras by the start of 2025. East St. Louis got its first body cameras in September.

Kendall Perry was rehired as chief after the new mayor, Charles Powell III, took office. Depending on who you ask, Perry either abruptly retired or was among the four city staff members fired in January for reasons they say were political.

Former chief Kendall Perry left the police department last month. Now, the city has selected its former director of internal affairs as the next chief.

Earlier this week, former Police Chief Kendall Perry told the Belleville News-Democrat he'd been fired.

A six-week enforcement action over the summer led to 300 southern Illinois residents who were ineligible to own a gun to surrender their Firearm Owner Identification card and get rid of their gun.

Illinois State Police introduced a new effort to help alleviate violent crime in East St. Louis during a press conference Wednesday.