Kristine Crow: Will develop strategies to address crime Galesburg Register-Mail Kristine Crow: What can be done to make Galesburg safer? I had a conversation with Police Chief Russ Idle and a sit-down discussion with the newly elected Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin; both have priorities to make Galesburg safer. Both recognize the problem and have goals and programs they plan to implement. Some of these plans have been put on hold due to the pandemic but will be implemented as soon as possible. For far too long Knox County has been soft on gun violence, but Karlin is drawing a hard line by changing the previous strategy from plea bargains to seeking the maximum penalties for gun related violence. Chief Idle plans to take a more community-oriented approach by reinvigorating the Neighborhood Watch Program and regularly setting aside time in a public setting to be accessible to members of the public; a regular event where any community member can stop in and chat about concerns without the need to go to the Public Safety Building.